Being asked to deliver a funeral speech to honor a friend or loved one is a special privilege, but you may not be certain what to say.
Rather than turn down that opportunity, follow these guidelines instead to create a meaningful funeral speech.
What Should I Say? To answer that question, consider what you were asked to do.
Were you asked to deliver a short tribute to the deceased? Tributes usually involve speaking about what made the person who has died memorable.
Ask the person planning the funeral how long they would like you to speak, and stay within those guidelines.
It's appropriate to share favorite memories, but remember to keep what you're sharing appropriate for the entire audience.
You might also be asked to deliver the eulogy.
A eulogy is a more formal funeral speech that gives an overview of the person's life, qualities and accomplishments.
Again, make sure you know how long you're expected to speak at the funeral, and how many other people will be speaking.
It's helpful to sit down with the family, in particular, to gather more information to share.
If the person planning the funeral asks you to briefly share a memory about the one who has died, speak from your heart about something special.
Remember that several other people will probably also be sharing and keep your comments brief.
This type of sharing might also be part of a "homegoing" service, a celebration of the person's life or a graveside memorial.
How to Prepare a Funeral Speech Once you know how long you're expected to speak, write down the main points you plan to cover.
That might include special memories, a poem or song special to the one who's passed away or facts about the person's life.
Even when sharing personal memories and thoughts, it's a good idea to write them down rather than speaking "off the cuff.
" It's normal to be caught up in the emotion of a funeral, and easy to forget what you planned to say.
Writing down those main points on note cards or paper will help you stay on track.
Practicing your funeral speech will also help prevent stage fright.
Stand in front of a mirror and practice relaxing, smiling and looking out over your audience.
Remember, you aren't demonstrating your public speaking expertise; you're helping others remember the one who is gone.
Part of the honor of being asked to speak at someone's funeral is the opportunity to offer comfort through shared memories.
If your favorite memory of someone might hurt someone's feelings, it's probably not appropriate.
Think of this as an opportunity to bring the people attending the funeral closer together so they can help each other heal.
Here's a final review of the guidelines for preparing a funeral speech: 1.
Take the time to think through and write down what you'd like to share.
2.
Practice your funeral speech so that it's familiar the day of the service.
3.
Share your thoughts and memories with the goal of helping others heal.
4.
Pay attention to the requested time limit.
By taking these tips to heart, anyone can create a meaningful, memorable funeral speech.