Being asked to speak at the funeral service
of a loved one can certainly be an honour, but it can also be quite daunting.
You may be very nervous about what you should say, what the right things to say
really are, and how you can write something that will truly showcase the best
aspects of the person who has passed away. Continue reading for a few helpful
tips that will assist you in preparing for giving a speech at a funeral
service.
Reflect on What You Want to Say
In the same way that your loved one’s
family is busy planning a funeral that will suit the deceased’s wishes, you
should think about writing a speech that the person would’ve loved to hear.
This requires some time to reflect, so before you start writing anything down,
it’s a good idea to just take a break and reflect upon what you’d want to say.
You can go for a walk to think things over, or even ask the deceased’s family
about any specific funeral plans that were made
in advance in order to gain some extra insight into who they really were
and what they really wanted as their send off.
Consider a Theme for the Speech
When it comes to funeral speeches, there
are a few
themes that you can choose from. By following a theme, you can begin to
generate ideas more easily. For example, you can go with a life history, or a
short summary of the deceased’s life. This type of speech should reveal
something about the deceased that many people in attendance may not have known
about them. Or you can instead stick with a tribute speech that will showcase
some of the deceased’s best achievements and the highlights of their life. And
yet another option could be a shared memories theme during which you share your
own insights into the life of the person who passed, and the memories that you
created together.
Keep It Short
Rest assured that your eulogy doesn’t have
to be long at all. In fact, funeral speeches are best when they’re kept short.
You can practice saying your speech aloud and time yourself so you can be
certain that it runs only about 3 to 4 minutes in
length. Oftentimes, less is more, and just a few minutes should be all that you
need to say what you need to say to honour the deceased in a positive and
impactful way.
Feel Free to Write It Down
You certainly don’t need to memorise the
speech and present it to your audience. Instead, feel free to write it down and
read it. Glance up at your audience every now and then in order to make a
connection with them and establish eye contact with them, but don’t feel
obligated to have lines memorised.
Writing and presenting a speech at a
funeral service can be a great way to honour a loved one who has passed. If you
end up feeling overwhelmed at the event, however, you can ask a family member
or friend to read the speech for you.
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