|
|
A eulogy is a well-crafted speech, which a person is designated to prepare
and deliver during a funeral ceremony. It is usually read to commemorate a
dearly departed - to celebrate the life spent here on earth and the memories
that go with him. It is not necessary that a eulogy be a detailed summary of how
the deceased person spent his life, but rather it can concentrate on particular
positive situations or circumstances. Generally, people who are requested to
deliver eulogies are those people who are considered to know best the deceased
person. Therefore, personal experiences are expected to be re-told and
reminisced, and to be shared with other people who will be listening. The person
delivering the eulogy must show the reasons why the deceased is well-loved and
will be missed by the people around him.
To be given the task of delivering a eulogy is really an honor hence the
responsibility of providing a clear and positive picture of the person you will
be talking about is in order. Eulogies may be written in various ways. Some
people come up with serious speeches honoring the deceased person while others
would rather show the humorous side of the deceased person. The most recommended
eulogy is a combination of both since death should not be a reason to be sad but
a celebration of a life well-lived. Appropriate humorous anecdotes may be
interjected to lighten up the feeling of the audience.
One should devote some time in coming up with a well-written eulogy. Adequate
preparation must be made to gather biographical facts about the person you will
be talking about. In this case, you should confer with the deceased person’s
other family members so that you can verify as to the exact age, important dates
and places, and other personal data that you need to include in the eulogy.
It is wise to develop a theme to give focus on your speech. You may choose to
concentrate on a particular aspect of life of the deceased. An example would be,
if you and the deceased were co-workers, then talk about how great he performed
his job, his dedication to doing his work and his ambition to do well in his
chosen career. If you were best friends since high school or college, then talk
about the good times you had and how he helped you during those years. Do not
try to embellish your story with half-truths or lies. Speak from the heart so
that your sincerity will be reflected in your eulogy. Your love for the deceased
person must be felt by the people who are listening to your speech.
Organize the materials that you have gathered, pick the data that you will need
then prepare an outline. By doing this, you will have an idea of how your eulogy
should flow. Draft your eulogy then try to edit and polish your work. Practice
delivering your eulogy in front of a mirror or a friend in order that you can
see if improvements or additional editing have to be made.
|
|
|
|
