The Art of Writing a Eulogy Speech
A memorial service or funeral usually includes a friend or family member giving a eulogy. This is a speech that commemorates the life of the deceased and is one of the final gifts that can be given to someone who has passed on. It is normal that someone who has known the deceased well will speak about the person who has died and why they were special to the eulogizer.
How To Write A Memorable Eulogy
A funeral or memorial service is the last chance to honour someone who has died. Because of this, it is important that the speeches and readings that are given also form a heartfelt tribute to the deceased. If you have been asked to give a eulogy or memorial speech you may worry about how you can sum up the life of the person who has died in a respectful and eloquent way.
Sample Eulogy for a Mother
My mother was a quiet woman. Unlike other mothers I knew through friends and significant others, she was not prone to outbursts of anger or sorrow. Her love was deep and quiet and wrapped around my brothers and me. Although it was rarely spoken of, we knew that she loved us deeply and supported us with every fibre of her being.
Sample Eulogy For A Grandmother
My grandmother was a very brilliant and vibrant woman who loved life and the time she spent in the company of her friends and family. Although it is a sad occasion that brings us together today, it is good to see that she is once again in the company of those friends and family members that she loved and cherished.
I feel truly honoured to have been able to spend so much time in the company of my grandmother. Grandma loved and cherished all of her grandchildren and the house was always full of love and laughter. I remember staying there in the summer with my cousins. The house seemed like it would burst at the seams sometimes but Grandma was always able to make time for us individually. It did not matter whether it was a special picnic in the field behind the house or a chance to go with her to the market to pick up food for a holiday dinner.
Everywhere we went, there was an adventure for everything and a story, a tale, a memory to go with it. These stories were sometimes serious- talking about living through the War while my grandfather was overseas and sometimes light hearted. We all loved the story of my mother ending up in the pond at the end of the garden because she was trying to recreate the story of the Princess and the Frog. I learned so much about life, love and strength from her over the years.
Even after I grew up, I never moved far from home. It was always a joy to be able to visit Grandma regularly and hear about the new adventures in her life. Whether we talked in person or by phone it did not matter. The stories and memories were as vibrant as ever. I loved hearing about the trips she took with friends and the time she spent with them. I loved seeing the pictures and the mementos she brought back with her and listening to the tales that went along with them. I know that her travelling friends will miss her deeply.
If there was one thing that Grandma would want me to take away from her life it is that everything can be an adventure, if you look at it properly. I know that the memories I have of her will help me move forward and meet life head on, looking for the adventure that is in all of us and in all things.
In the words of Rossiter W. Raymond, a man of many talents, life is eternal; and love is immortal; and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. I know that Grandma is there, pushing past the horizon. I know that she is looking for the next great adventure and the stories that it brings.
I know that she is waiting for us to tell us her stories and to share the wit and wisdom that we all know and will all miss in the days to come.
Sample Eulogy For A Daughter
Although this is a position that no-one wants to be in, to give a eulogy for their daughter, I am honoured to be able to share Kate’s life with you. Although she was taken from us much too early, she packed so much into the years that she did have and we are blessed to have a myriad happy memories that bring back her time with us.
Sample Eulogy for a Friend
It is said that good friends are the family one chooses for themselves and with Julie, it has truly felt like she was a part of my family. I have known her practically all of my life and she has always been there to support and encourage me.
You know that you have found a good friend, a true friend when you can go long periods of time without speaking and still be able to finish each other’s sentences. When you can speak in your own language made up of memories and inside jokes which leaves everyone around you shaking their head as they laugh. This is the way that Julie and I were. We were thick as thieves for so long that it was natural to have our own code, our own jokes, our own routine.
One of our favourite recurring routines was the joke about respecting one’s elders. I was four days older than her and would tell her that indeed, she needed to respect me because I was her elder. This usually led to her sticking out her tongue at me or making some other gesture that showed me exactly what she thought of that particular sentiment. I, of course, never really cared and this conversation usually sent us off into gales of laughter.
Julie and I spent a lot of time together. My parents would take her with us on vacation. She and I had some great times travelling here and there.
As we got older it was fantastic to see how our lives took parallel courses. We both married and both had our children close together. First-time parenthood is always frightening and it was fantastic to have someone to bounce ideas off of. We didn’t live close together at this point, so our phone bills could tell you quite a story about late night calls while nursing, and long conversations discussing the merits of disposable nappies versus reusable ones or which carriage to buy.
When my husband left me, Julie and her husband were absolute Godsends. My daughter was young, I had no job. They took us in and I truly felt like my daughter and I were coming home. I have always felt welcomed by her family who I know are feeling her loss quite keenly right now. We moved out shortly after, but thankfully stayed close by and our friendship grew even stronger.
When I heard that she was sick, I was shell shocked. She was always so full of life, so vibrant, how could she be sick? I remember staying with her during treatments and turning wig shopping into something fun by scandalizing the waiters. We had quite a challenging time finding clothing that didn’t show her scars while managing to still show a little bit of skin.
Although we knew the end was coming, its arrival was still such a shock, one that I know we have all felt deeply. I know that her family will mourn her deeply, as will I. I only hope that I can give you love and support and live up to the legacy of kindness and caring that was a testament to Julie’s memory.