How to write a eulogy

A eulogy is a speech that is read out during a funeral ceremony in order to commemorate the life of the deceased. The Funeral carer can help you to decide on the perfect eulogy for your loved one and the funeral directors will be happy to help in choosing the perfect content for your eulogy.

You may decide to read out your loved one’s favourite poem or a section of their favourite book, or you may find it more appropriate to write a small speech yourself. This can include anecdotes of fond memories that you and your relatives have of the deceased, or it could be given as a way to sum up the life and personality of the person that has recently passed away.

It is understandable that you may not have experience of writing a eulogy before and you are likely to find it difficult to know where to start. It can also be an incredibly emotional experience to create a unique eulogy, but don’t worry – help is on hand.

The Co-Operative Funeral care has created a special guide to help you. This guide features a foreword by the Poet Laureate Andrew Motion and includes information on every aspect of writing a eulogy, from choosing the content to delivering it on the day of the funeral. You can view this guide, titled ‘Well Chosen Words – How to Write a Eulogy’, online in PDF format.