What is the Point of a Eulogy?

When one begins to prepare for writing a eulogy, it may be helpful to keep in mind the point of a eulogy. The point may vary slightly based on each person’s beliefs and preferences, but in general the point of a eulogy is to provide a glimpse into the character and life of the deceased.

There will often be more than one person delivering a eulogy. Each may have a different perspective on the deceased, but the point remains the same. Keeping the points of a eulogy in mind will help you in your writing. Below are a few bullet points to consider.

• Show the audience how the deceased lived his/her life
• Show the audience the kind of person the deceased was
• Show the audience the way the deceased like to spend his or her time
• Highlight accomplishments, both personal and professional, for which the deceased was proud
• Share, if applicable, how the deceased actions positively impacted people around him

If you keep those points in mind, it might provide inspiration as you ponder talking points for the eulogy. Just as important as it is to consider the point of a eulogy, it is also a good idea to keep in mind what the eulogy is NOT intended to do.

• Focus on the speaker’s emotions
• Highlight character flaws of the deceased
• Say anything that could be embarrassing to the deceased or his family

As you begin to craft the eulogy, keeping the above points in mind, draw on stories that will illustrate the point rather than telling it. Below is an example.

The point: Deceased was very caring and generous.

Example of telling: John was very generous. He loved to help homeless people and had a soft spot for children in need.

Example of showing: John typically used his Christmas bonus to buy items for a couple of local homeless shelters. One year, he bought toys for every single child in a shelter that housed families in crisis.

By using stories, you will paint a more effective picture of the deceased.

Keeping the point of a eulogy in mind will help you pick and choose which types of stories and anecdotes to include in the eulogy.

As is true in many areas of life, sometimes things are better left unsaid. One of the points of a eulogy is to remember what was good about the life of the deceased, and help the audience understand more about the man or woman who has died.