The Anatomy Of A Good Eulogy: What To Include In A Meaningful Rememberence

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Writing a eulogy is an uncommon thing to do, and some people never have to. Knowing what to say in a eulogy, like what to include and what to leave out, can be a challenge. If you're trying to write a eulogy for a loved one, knowing what to write in the eulogy and what kind of information is commonly found in a eulogy can be helpful. This article will breakdown the common components of a eulogy, so you'll know what to write.

Biography

any eulogies include biographical information, like personal milestones of the deceased. Events like the birth of children and personal achievements are more important than mundane details like the year of birth and city of residence. When trying to decide what to include in the deceased's biography, make a short list of 5 to 10 events and important facts to include. It also helps to think of a few anecdotes that help illustrate your personal relationship with the deceased. This kind of information helps humanize your loved one and gives the audience a more intimate understanding of the deceased person.

Humor

Eulogies don't have to be all sad. In fact, people who attend funerals often have a special appreciation for uplifting information. Sharing a few jokes and funny memories about the deceased is appropriate, especially if you can tie it in with the biographical information.

Spiritual Quotes

Religious passages and meaningful spiritual phrases can comfort your audience during this difficult time. If you're not sure which passages would be the most appropriate, have a talk with the deceased's spiritual leader. If there's no such leader to turn to, have a talk with the funeral director. Many directors of funeral homes know a variety of inspirational passages that people find comforting during difficult times.

On a side note, spiritual quotes make good openings for eulogies. If you're having a hard time writing the beginning lines of the eulogy, pick a spiritual quote and briefly discuss the ways in which that quote is meaningful given the context.

Poetry

Lines of poetry and even song lyrics can be comforting and beautiful in a eulogy. As you write your eulogy, keep in mind one or two of the deceased's favorite lines of poetry. If you don't know what poetry was meaningful to the deceased, listen to some songs that the deceased loved to hear, and think about ways that you might incorporate one or two sentences from those songs in the reading. Poetry serves as good filler and also helps set the tone of the eulogy in a way that is artful and elegant.

Lessons Learned

Very likely, your deceased loved one taught you some lessons during his or her lifetime, whether directly or indirectly. Lessons learned from the life of the deceased make good conclusions for many eulogies. Maybe the deceased taught you the value of patience or the meaning of unconditional love. Whatever your relationship to the deceased, sharing the lessons learned from that person can help you wrap up the eulogy in a way that will leave the audience feeling inspired and comforted.  

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3 July 2016

Have You Planned for Your Future?

When my father passed away a year ago, my mother didn't have any problems with the funeral or burial. My father planned his funeral in advance. He didn't want to burden my mom with any problems during her time of grieving. That hit me. I realized that I didn't have any plans for my own future, which would make it even harder on my wife and kids. So, I contacted a funeral home online and requested information about burial services. The funeral home provided me with many options that I could afford to pay over time or upfront. My wife also helped select burial plots for us because we didn't want to be separated — even after death. I encourage you to read through my blog. It offers great tips and advice on how to plan for your own future. Don't wait. You never know what life holds for you.