How to Write a Speech – Funeral Speeches

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Funeral speeches can be a difficult thing. If you have to write a eulogy you need two things: time and quietude. Time to think and quietude to put those thoughts into words.

An established method for writing funeral speeches is this one:

Take a piece of paper and write down everything that you can think of when remembering the deceased. Don’t hesitate. Just write. It doesn’t matter what. Let yourself go, lose yourself in your memories and thoughts – but write them down. Think about what you would have liked to tell the deceased if you had the chance of a last farewell. It’s exactly these kinds of thoughts that help you formulate your speech. And not only that: Inside yourself you will find it easier to cope with your loss.
After a while you can start arranging your thoughts. Not everything you wrote down will be adequate for a speech. In the end you will discover that some valuable thoughts that are very close to the deceased will remain.
Keep the address of welcome as short as possible. Only greet the closest relatives. Then start with a sentence that captures your audience.
Be emotional. Tell the audience what you feel when standing at the grave of your lost one. Then depict the vita of this human being. Keep that short also. Focus on a few highlights like special character traits and accomplishments and if possible add a joyful event or some special memories. At the end of your speech summarize the memory of the deceased in one final sentence.
Avoid superficiality and flattery. You don’t have to twist reality for a eulogy. Honesty and benevolence is the way to go.

Funeral speeches don’t have to be long. But don’t be too tempted: Writing a short speech can oftentimes be harder than writing a longer one.

When you finished writing let another person read your manuscript. You are most likely in mourning and affected by the death of your loved one. Another person can help you find out which parts of your speech still need some work and which parts are too long or too short. Don’t hesitate to talk with somebody about your eulogy speech. Maybe he’s glad to talk with someone and in a way you help them work through the mourning process.