Death is a complex emotion to deal with. Many people have a hard time coming to terms with losing a loved one, and others rarely think about it and continue living their lives. Regardless, we still know that it is an inevitable fact that will befall all of us and everyone we love at some point.
One of the hardest pills to swallow is hearing the loss of a loved one. The Kubler-Ross model suggests that there are five stages of grief. However, coming to terms with a loved one’s death is so much more than a linear timeline. The emotions vary, the reactions vary, and individual differences change everything we know about the grieving process. Grief is a powerful emotion; we don’t particularly know how to handle it because it only rears its head seldom.
If you have recently lost a loved one and need to write a eulogy, chances are you are having a hard time managing your emotions and do not know what to say. Because this is a difficult time for you, let us get to the point and start with tips related to delivering a memorable eulogy.
Focus on time
When it comes to a funeral, certain things need to be done on time for the event to go smoothly. It would be best to hire a funeral planning service to ensure everything is in order and takes place on time. Naturally, the ceremony may be in the middle of the day, and people might have other engagements to attend or return to. Therefore, to ensure that that the entire ceremony begins and ends smoothly, you might want to keep an eye on the clock.
Understandably you might have a lot to say at this time, but you might want to keep your eulogy short and to the point. A long-drawn-out speech might lose people’s interest, and they might stop listening to you, which is quite disrespectful to both you as a reader and the deceased. Therefore, you should try to fit as much as possible in the limited time you have to make the eulogy more memorable.
Moreover, you will need to take a minute or two to get a hold of your emotions, so it would be a good idea to wrap it up as soon as possible.
Start with a funny story about the deceased
As the mood in the vicinity can be depressing, it would be a good idea to bring much-needed relief in the form of light humor as soon as you start the speech. Everyone loves a story, that too a funny one. Take the time to start with something cheerful that everyone remembers about the deceased. The audience will be more receptive to you.
Other than that, as emotions would overcome you, the story might give you the strength to get through the rest of the speech. Merely reminiscing about your loved one can temporarily suppress your emotions and get you through the rest of the eulogy.
While giving the eulogy, it would be best to keep the story appropriate. You might not want to offend anyone in the process of trying to lighten up the gloomy aura.
Maximize the positives
Grief is one of the most un-conventional emotions you can feel. Not only does it vary from person to person, but it varies across time as well.
One of the most appropriate ways to address a grieving crowd and deliver a memorable eulogy is to spread positivity through the speech. Even if they weren’t the nicest people in the world, talk about their positives anyway. No one wants to hear about how awful their loved one was on the day of their funeral. Therefore, it would be wise to keep the message positive and minimize the negativity in the speech.
End with a message
If you are looking to leave a lasting impression on the crowd, it would be best to end on a message that co-relates with the deceased’s values. The entire purpose of a eulogy is to relate to the departed and remember the life they lived.
It would be best to end on a note that reminds the listeners of a message the deceased would have given. It should sound like something they believed in.
If you don’t know about the values they held, consider asking one of their loved ones and writing your eulogy based on what they tell you.
Conclusion
There is a strong chance that you would have recently lost a loved one if you are reading this article. Please accept our condolences in that case. Death can be a confusing time, and it would be best for you to take solace in your family and friends during this period of intense emotional arousal.
Writing a eulogy is somewhat of a last goodbye. It is your chance to make peace with death and aid others in the recovery process as well. Try remembering the good stuff about the person and not the bad. Keep your eulogy short and positive so that people will remember it when they eventually move on with their lives.
