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Creating Meaningful Funeral Speeches
By Kim Gibson
Being asked to deliver a funeral speech to honor a
friend or loved one is a special privilege, but you may
not be certain what to say. Rather than turn down that
opportunity, follow these guidelines instead to create a
meaningful funeral speech.
What Should I Say? To answer that question, consider
what you were asked to do. Were you asked to deliver a
short tribute to the deceased? Tributes usually involve
speaking about what made the person who has died
memorable. Ask the person planning the funeral how long
they would like you to speak, and stay within those
guidelines. It's appropriate to share favorite memories,
but remember to keep what you're sharing appropriate for
the entire audience.
You might also be asked to deliver the eulogy. A eulogy
is a more formal funeral speech that gives an overview
of the person's life, qualities and accomplishments.
Again, make sure you know how long you're expected to
speak at the funeral, and how many other people will be
speaking. It's helpful to sit down with the family, in
particular, to gather more information to share.
If the person planning the funeral asks you to briefly
share a memory about the one who has died, speak from
your heart about something special. Remember that
several other people will probably also be sharing and
keep your comments brief. This type of sharing might
also be part of a "homegoing" service, a celebration of
the person's life or a graveside memorial.
How to Prepare a Funeral Speech
Once you know how long you're expected to speak, write
down the main points you plan to cover. That might
include special memories, a poem or song special to the
one who's passed away or facts about the person's life.
Even when sharing personal memories and thoughts, it's a
good idea to write them down rather than speaking "off
the cuff." It's normal to be caught up in the emotion of
a funeral, and easy to forget what you planned to say.
Writing down those main points on note cards or paper
will help you stay on track. Practicing your funeral
speech will also help prevent stage fright. Stand in
front of a mirror and practice relaxing, smiling and
looking out over your audience. Remember, you aren't
demonstrating your public speaking expertise; you're
helping others remember the one who is gone.
Part of the honor of being asked to speak at someone's
funeral is the opportunity to offer comfort through
shared memories. If your favorite memory of someone
might hurt someone's feelings, it's probably not
appropriate. Think of this as an opportunity to bring
the people attending the funeral closer together so they
can help each other heal.
Here's a final review of the guidelines for preparing a
funeral speech:
1. Take the time to think through and write down what
you'd like to share.
2. Practice your funeral speech so that it's familiar
the day of the service.
3. Share your thoughts and memories with the goal of
helping others heal.
4. Pay attention to the requested time limit.
By taking these tips to heart, anyone can create a
meaningful, memorable funeral speech.
Kimberly Gibson is owner of Elegant Memorials Funeral
Program Templates . She also writes and publishes a wide
range of articles in funeral and memorial planning,
including articles on funeral speeches and funeral
songs. |
