Eulogy speech help?

[Melonhead58]

I am trying to figure out the best way to write a Eulogy for my favorite
Uncle that just past away 2 days ago. Any tips, ideas or encouragement? I
need advise ASAP. The funeral is tomorrow, Sat. May 15. Thanks for any
suggestions.

 

[Stefan Blom]

Sorry, but this isn't the right place to ask for help on document contents; this
newsgroup deals with the technical aspects on using Word.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

As Stefan says, we don't deal with content here, but my advice is to speak
from the heart. Tell the things you loved about your uncle, special things
he did for you or that you enjoyed doing together. Include some humorous
anecdotes, as these are always welcome at funerals. I've often attended
funerals for parents of friends (to support my friends even though I didn't
know their parents) and come away wishing I'd known the deceased because the
family tell such interesting anecdotes about them.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

My favorite eulogy was one that was given for a friend's son who committed
suicide at age 16. His pastor told us a story about a funny scheme/scam this
kid was running with umbrellas. It was the first time I ever laughed during
a funeral. We often forget that the deceased wasn't always surrounded with
sorrow.

 

[Peter T. Daniels]

One week ago, I went to the funeral of my best friend's mother. He
gave the main eulogy, which was in part a biographical sketch, but
mostly reminded the extended family (there were cousins galore) how
she'd touched them. He was followed by his two teen-age nieces (his
sister, a professional musician, didn't say any original words of her
own, but played appropriate English horn selections), who told funny
stories about going to visit grandma.

So what you put in your talk depends on whether you're giving the main
eulogy, or whether you're just going to tell everyone how much he
meant to you in particular, with some especially happy memories.

 

[DeanH]

Sorry for your loss.
But as you can see most people are suggesting humourous anecdotes and I
thoroughly agree.
My older brother died about 10 years ago, and when I recall the anecdote my
father said concerning my brother's attempts to get "rich-quick" schemes,
especially the "Pizza by Post", with of cause the usual "allow 28 days for
delivery" clause.
I always remember my brother with a smile and happy feeling, all this years
later.
DeanH

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

When my father died, my three brothers and I, by common consent, focused on
specific aspects of Dad's personality and the ways we'd interacted with him.
One brother concentrated on his love of trains and Japan and the way they
were combined. I talked about his love of family contests and other
incentive schemes. Another brother talked about Dad's optimism and how
everything he experienced was always "the best." Another spoke of Dad's
Depression-engendered thrift but surprising generosity and how he always
seemed to be able to find something in common with everyone he met. All of
these talks included some humor and got a lot of laughs. My daughter spoke
last, very much from the heart (much more sentimentally than any of the rest
of us), and moved the audience to tears. We got a lot of compliments on the
service.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org