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A eulogy (sometimes called a life story ) is a speech given at a service in memory of the deceased. It is usually delivered by someone who knew the deceased person well. It can cover the main events, successes and achievements in their life. A Eulogy can also reflect the person's character and essence and have the parts that were important to them.
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Delivering the EulogyIf you’ve been to a few funerals, you will probably have noticed that there are several different types of eulogies. Some work well and others not so well. The overly detailed eulogy often causes the mourners’ attention to drift especially if it is delivered in a monotone and is serious and lengthy. An inappropriately funny eulogy can be distressing for those attending. If you experienced these styles of eulogies you are likely to be left with the inescapable conclusion that the person who died had not been served well by the speaker.
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We like it when the speaker makes us smile. We may be sad but we want to smile because we liked the person being eulogised. We want to share their happy memories. That’s why we’re at their funeral.
We like it even better if the speaker makes us laugh, but not too much because we’ll start feeling uncomfortable and disrespectful. Don’t tell us very private inside jokes or stories. You know, the kind where you had to have been there to get the joke. We don’t like it when most of the audience doesn't get it’. It feels exclusionary. |
TributesA tribute is a very brief anecdote or two about the deceased, usually delivered after the eulogy or life story. At a large service with many people delivering tributes it is important to try and be brief and not repeat the same story that has been told. If you aim for 2 to 3 minutes that gives everyone the opportunity to share their stories and memories.
Download your eulogy tip sheet here |
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