How to Write your eulogy

1. Death is a delightful hiding place for weary men ~Herodotus How to Write your eulogy

2. Take a break to prepare • Before you start to write your speech take a break • Life history – this is a short summary of someone’s life. These speeches are often fascinating as reveal a side to the deceased that was not always known. • Tribute – this brings out some of the highlights or achievements in somebody’s life. This is the form adopted in many obituaries in the newspaper. • Shared memories – This is a personal insight not into the life of the deceased, but of memories that you shared with them. These are often very touching and are one of the easiest to do. • Legacy – this focuses on their achievements and what they have left after them – children, changed lives, completed projects. The best example is on Christomer Wren tomb in St Paul’s Cathedral “reader if you require a monument, look around you”

3. Keep it short • To keep the impact of a speech – keep it short. • Three or five minutes will be enough to say what you have to say. • You will need to write it down and rehearse to make sure that you keep to time.

4. Focus on the life, not on the death • It is so easy to focus on death when writing your eulogy, but think of some of your achievements, family, friends, etc. • Focus on the better times, on the happy memories – on the life. • Everyone in the audience will already be “sad”, let them take away a few happy memories.

5. Rehearse • Rehearsal really is key. Rehearse your speech out loud at least four times. • One of these should be in front of an audience – a member of the family or a friend. • This is really tough as you will be against the clock by now, but if you can put in the rehearsal time, your speech will get much better. You will also have the chance to fine tune it.

6. Your Eulogy • You will write and present your eulogy for our Living Funeral. • Think about some of the things that you would want people to say about you. • Then select how you want to present your eulogy (tribute, shared memories, etc.) • Think of some of the following: • Goals • Family • Community activities • Sports/ Activities involved in

7. Eulogy Examples • Michael Jackson's Eulogy - Brooke Shields • Michael Jackson's Eulogy - Berry Gordy • Bindi's Eulogy for her Dad - Steve Irwin