A Good Resource On Eulogy Writing

Here are some more tips on writing a eulogy. WikiHow's entry for How To Write A Eulogy has some good pointers, and it even has a video to give you more information. I will be posting more links to useful sites about eulogies, online memorials, and funerals as time permits.

How To Write A Eulogy

Some day you may be called upon to write a eulogy for a friend or relative. Writing a eulogy is a wonderful thing, but it carries some pressure. If you knew the deceased person well your emotions may be overwhelming as you try to write the eulogy. Here are some tips for writing a eulogy that will be gracious and dignified.
. If you are too overwhelmed with emotion, don’t do it. If you are too upset to even think properly, you won’t be able to write a coherent eulogy. Be honest about your emotional state. It’s better to not write a eulogy than to write something that barely makes sense, or is so filled with raw emotion that it is upsetting to read.
. Make it personal. The best eulogies are the ones that tell personal stories about the deceased. Think of some events that really sum up the person, to show what that person was all about. If you don’t know any, talk to the person’s friends or family to get some personal stories.
. Use humor. Yes, humor. A eulogy doesn’t have to be unrelentingly sad. Many times eulogies are read at the end of a funeral service, and the congregation is grateful for a chance to laugh. A funny anecdote from the deceased’s life is often a way to celebrate the positive aspects of that person’s life. Make sure you don’t go overboard, though, and turn the eulogy into a standup comedy performance, or use humor that is inappropriate.
. Keep your own emotions in check. Eulogies are not an opportunity to settle scores or bring up old grudges. Do not say anything inflammatory, about the deceased, their family, or anyone else connected with them. Don’t try to be their advocate, or explain why they did this or that. The time for that is over.
. End on a high note. There is always some sunshine in every life, and a good eulogy will celebrate that sunshine. End your eulogy with something uplifting about the deceased’s life, a last picture that will stay in people’s memories.
. Read it to someone you trust. We all need a good editor when we write something, and writing a eulogy is no different. Because your emotions are involved, you need someone else’s opinion of what you’ve written before you print the final draft. Feedback from a third party will help to keep things in perspective.

Why online memorials are a good thing.

I created this blog because I think every person deserves to have their life celebrated. There is a sense of finality to funerals, of course, and that always made me sad. After the funeral, after the gravesite ceremony and the luncheon, after the old pictures are put away and everybody goes back to their life, what then?
You’re left with your memories. Oh, sometimes people still talk about the deceased person, and the old stories get brought out at odd times. For the most part, though, there is no easy way for people to commemorate a loved one in our society.
With the Internet, there is a way, however.
In recent years, people have found ways to create online memorials to their loved ones. From simple guestbooks at online newspaper obituary sites, to full-blown memorial Web sites about a deceased person, there are many options. I welcome these sites because they allow us to keep a person’s spirit alive, and they give the survivors a way to cherish the memory of a loved one.
I hope to offer links, ideas, tips, articles, and maybe a little advice about the new ways we are learning to celebrate life and commemorate death.
Stay tuned.