Five Things to Include in a Eulogy

No two eulogies should be exactly alike. Each should be written with the decedent in mind, and should be a reflection of that person’s life and accomplishments. That being said, there are some things that should be included in most eulogies. Keeping these key points in mind will help keep you focused as you write a eulogy.

1. Values

When writing a eulogy, you should almost always include a mention of the person’s core values. What was important to him? How did he choose to live his life? How did he impact those around him?

Remember that a eulogy is a memorial of a person’s life. It should almost always include a mention of those values that were most important to him.

1. Accomplishments

A eulogy should also include a few of the biggest accomplishment achieved by the person being remembered. This may include career accomplishments or personal accomplishments. You can include recent accomplishments, but it is also fine to go back several years.

If you are unclear about his accomplishments, ask a close friend or family members for ideas about what to include.

1. Mention of Family

Obviously, it is almost always a good idea to include a mention of how much the person being eulogized loved their family. You could repeat some especially nice thing you heard him say about his spouse, or talk about how he was always bragging about his children’s accomplishments.

1. Looking Ahead

When writing a eulogy, it is often a good idea to include a mention of life without the person being remembered. This will usually be placed near the end of the eulogy. You could say, for example, “While it is difficult to imagine life without Tom, we know that we will forever be able to cling to the wonderful memories that we have and that he will be watching over us.”

Such looking ahead can help to give the eulogy a feeling of having a beginning, middle and an end which will make it easier to follow and make it feel complete.

1. Quotes or Scriptures

Finally, most eulogies contain a quote from a famous writer or a scripture verse. Such quotes can be found in books and on Web sites. Look for quotes and scriptures about life, death and mourning.

While it is common to include a quote or scripture as a way to end the eulogy, feel free to insert such material anywhere that it seems appropriate.

Writing a eulogy can be a bit intimidating, but by remembering the above key points, you have a rough outline to help you start the process.
photo credit: Grace to You