Write a Eulogy for a Grandparent
A eulogy is a speech about a person who has died, typically delivered at the funeral service. Several eulogies might be given from people who knew the deceased as a coworker, a classmate, a neighbor, etc. To write a eulogy for a grandparent, you should concentrate on your relationship as his or her grandchild, rather than trying to encompass your grandparent's entire life. Funerals can be difficult for everyone who knew the departed, but knowing how to write a strong eulogy can help give you and everyone else in attendance a sense of peace and closure.
Contents
Steps
Sample Eulogies
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Planning a Eulogy
- Brainstorm and plan. During the brainstorming session, you'll need to be capable of letting some ideas go. You won't be able to fit everything you want to say into one speech, so don't try to give a detailed biography of your grandparent's entire life. Think about specific memories of your grandparent: times you spent together, occasions that strike you as being definitive of your grandparent's personality, and so on. Write everything down, and don't feel obligated to include everything that makes the list.
- Ask yourself what qualities best describe your grandparent.
- Consider what set your grandparent apart from anyone else you know.
- If your grandparent had certain hobbies or passions in life, you may want to mention those. But there's no need to make these the focus of your eulogy, as it should be primarily about the departed's role as your grandparent.
- Ask about other people's memories. The focus of your eulogy should be on how the departed was a caring grandparent in your life. But that doesn't mean you can't open up to other people who knew your grandparent. Asking your parents or aunts/uncles about their relationship with your grandparent might be a good place to start. You could even ask any close friends of your grandparent what their favorite memories are of your grandparent. It might help give you some ideas on how other people knew your grandparent, and why your grandparent was important to people outside your family.
- When speaking with others about your grandparent, you may want to consider asking how and when they first met your grandparent (if there is no familial relation), what their favorite memories are with your grandparent, and what your grandparent's best qualities were. The answers may vary greatly from your own list if the person was a friend rather than a relative of your grandparent, which can help you open your eulogy to include how others saw your grandparent.
- Look for illuminating memories. As you comb over the memories you have of your grandparent, look for moments that characterize your grandparent best. Did he/she ever say or do something that has always made you think, "That's the essence of my grandparent"? It doesn't need to be a huge, life-changing moment. Often the best illuminating memories of a person are the little things they said or did, the day-to-day qualities that contribute to the person's identity and personality.
- As you begin writing down your memories, focus on writing a series of little truths. Avoid the big, sweeping declarations and focus on the little details that defined your grandparent or your relationship with your grandparent.
- Be concrete. Don't just write that your grandparent was caring. Write out a specific memory that will illustrate your grandparent's caring nature. If your grandparent had a wonderful sense of humor, don't just say he/she was funny. Write about his/her humor, perhaps a time your grandparent played a practical joke or told a funny story. Remember that not everyone has the same memories of your grandparent that you have. Your eulogy should illustrate for everyone at the funeral what your relationship was like, and what the departed was like as a grandparent.
Setting the Tone
- Make people laugh without telling jokes. Remember that you're not writing a standup comedy routine. But eulogies often elicit a little laughter from the congregation, which can be helpful for everyone who is mourning. Don't write a slapstick comedy, but try to give one or two little anecdotes that will make anyone who knew your grandparent chuckle and think, "That's so true!" Or you may want to tell an anecdote that will end with a twist no one was expecting, but which captures a quirk about your grandparent. However you choose to write the eulogy, remember that laughter helps people heal, and you don't need too much of it to be successful.
- Don't write jokes. Remember that it's still a funeral, but one or two humorous and well-placed anecdotes can help lighten the mood and make everyone remember the fond, happy memories they had of your grandparent.
- Tailor the speech to your grandparent. It's important to consider your grandparent's personality as you draft your eulogy. If your grandparent was very serious in life, you may want to avoid humorous anecdotes. If your grandparent was extremely religious, then feel free to mention the role that faith played in your grandparent's life. There is no absolute rule in writing a eulogy, other than trying your hardest to capture your grandparent's spirit and personality in writing. Focus on what your grandparent would have wanted to hear, and what is appropriate and important in memorializing his or her life.
- Edit yourself out. It's okay if the first draft of your eulogy focuses on your thoughts and feelings, but remember that it isn't ultimately about you. It's perfectly acceptable to write about your specific relationship with your grandparent, but avoid lingering on how you feel or what you're thinking. Everyone knows you care about your grandparent and will miss him or her, and what they really want to hear is a loving tribute to your grandparent's life.
- Consider having someone else read your eulogy beforehand and ask them if there's too much of you in it. Having an outsider's opinion may help you recognize ways to focus more on your grandparent and your relationship than on your subjective feelings.
Preparing the Eulogy
- Write a brief introduction. If you come from a large family, or if your grandparent had a lot of friends, there's a chance that not everyone will know you as the grandchild. Keep your introduction very brief - just a short sentence will suffice. The introduction should simply let people know your name and your relation to the deceased.
- Coordinate with other speakers. If other relatives or friends will be giving their own eulogies at the service, you may want to reach out to those speakers in advance. Coordinate what each speaker intends to talk about so that you don't all cover the same qualities or tell the same stories.
- Know if there's a time limit. Sometimes when there are multiple speakers at a funeral, you may be asked to keep your eulogy under a certain time limit. Even if there isn't an explicit time limit given to you, it's important to remember that your eulogy shouldn't go on and on forever. Be respectful and know when to cut down the length of your eulogy.
- Try to keep the eulogy under five minutes, even if there is no explicit time limit. After five minutes most people find it difficult to keep listening, especially if they are overcome with grief.
- Avoid trying to make sense of things. You won't do your grandparent any favors by trying to make sense of his or her death. And you're not going to be able to contextualize an entire life. So rather than trying to tell anyone what to think of your grandparent's life and death, it's best to focus on what made your grandparent's life so important. There's no need to mention how it will be hard to fill the void they've left, because everyone is probably thinking the same thing. Rather than state the obvious, focus on making the eulogy a loving tribute to the life your grandparent lived.
- Practice the eulogy at home. It's generally a good idea to practice any speech ahead of time, and a eulogy is no different. You will most likely cry during the eulogy - and that's okay. It's natural to cry at a funeral, especially when you're recalling all the wonderful memories you have of your grandparent. But you don't want to be so emotional that your loving tribute is lost under uncontrollable tears and sobs. Practicing beforehand will allow you to get some of the crying off your chest when no one is around, which is important, as this may be the first time you've spoken candidly about your grandparent's death. Don't be afraid to cry, but let yourself have a good cry before you're expected to speak to the congregation.
- Figure out the logistics. It's important to know the specifics of the funeral's location before the service. Knowing where you'll be speaking, whether there are any obstacles to walk over, and whether there is a microphone are all important factors to consider when planning to deliver a eulogy. And don't forget to bring a written copy of your final eulogy to the service. Even if you think you've got it memorized, it's a good idea to bring a hard copy, just in case.
Tips
- Begin writing a eulogy as soon as you're asked. You will probably only have a few days, but the more time you take, the better the eulogy will be.
- Try not to be nervous if you're asked to deliver a eulogy. No one attending the funeral will expect you to be an expert public speaker. They will appreciate any memories you share with them, no matter how they are delivered.
- If you are not to familiar with the deceased, think of three words about them, then why. This will make a memorable, but easy to come up with eulogy. Try to make it heartfelt.
Warnings
- Never make your eulogy into a poem. The attendees will be distracted from the meaning because they will be concentrating on the rhythm and rhyme of the poem.
- A funeral is not the time to "set the record straight" about your grandparent or to resolve family issues. Be kind and try to give as loving a tribute as possible.
