A funeral is a celebration of life. We celebrate the life of a beloved person, someone who lived an eventful life. It is a way to cherish their memory and give them the farewell they deserve. Thus, every event of a funeral is special. From the funeral pamphlet to the eulogy to the choice of music, everything adds up to become a meaningful experience. However, in terms of importance, the memorial praise is probably the most significant. It embodies the life of the deceased in a shady, heartfelt, loving way.
Writing a funeral memorial can be challenging, especially if you are writing for someone close to you. It is a very emotional experience since it is always hard to picture a person’s life with mere words. When writing a memorial, struggling with a funeral memorial template is not uncommon. In this article, we have discussed a funeral memorial’s technicalities to help you write a perfect eulogy for a loved one.
What is a Funeral Memorial?
A funeral memorial, also known as a funeral eulogy, is a short, five to ten-minute speech delivered at a funeral. It highlights the life of the deceased, highlighting their memories, achievements, etc.
A funeral memorial is a heartfelt attempt to give the audience a vivid description of the deceased’s life. It is almost as if the person we have lost is right there in the audience. It is an attempt to remember the best and worst of the person. Thus, the memorial is mostly written and delivered by a loved one. Often, it is a close family member, an old friend, or a long-term co-worker.
So, let us dive deep into the ins-and-outs of an ideal funeral memorial, which will help you write your own.
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Tips on Writing a Funeral Memorial
Our feelings cannot always be confined within rules. Thus, there is no rule for writing a funeral memorial. However, your eulogy must be meaningful and thought provoking. Therefore, we are giving a few tips to help you write a thoughtful memorial for your loved one.
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Choose your theme
To begin with, choose a subject for your memorial. Think of the person and his/her relationship with you. If he/she was someone you had a friendly, fun relationship with, you could choose to add some humor into it. You can try adding a few quips here and there to lighten up the otherwise morbid environment. However, it has to respect the occasion and severity of the situation as well. Choosing a style first and foremost can help you structure everything better.
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Understand the situation
This is a vital thing to keep in mind. You have to understand the tone of the case to write your words. If you are writing for a friend who lived a long life and age took the better of them, you can inject some fun in your words. However, if it’s a veteran who lost his/her life at war, you have to respect their sacrifice. So, understand the event and choose your theme based on it.
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Gather information
Once you have set a tone for your speech, start gathering as much information as possible. Even if he/she is a close family member or your best friend for life, there is always a lot more to their life than you know. So, talk to his/her friends, family members, other near and dear ones, and visit places he/she used to visit to know as much as possible.
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Refresh your memories
The person that has passed away lives through our minds. But, with time, our memories with them can fade away a bit. Thus, revisiting these old memories before writing about them can make your memorial speech a lot better.
One of the best ways of revisiting old memories is by going through old photos. The photos capture memories we might have forgotten. Going through old photos and visiting old places can give you the boost of mind you need. In addition, who doesn’t like going through old photos?
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Understand the person
You should create a vivid picture of the person as well, which is just as important as understanding the situation. Get to know how he/she was with their loved ones, family members, friends, and everyone around them.
Remember, death does not create a saint. If certain parts of him/her were not perfect, do not ignore them. Address them so that people do not hate them; instead embrace the person as he/she was. Also, dive into certain aspects of his/her character, if he/she was adventurous; mention the adventures they had. If he/she served in the army, talk about their courage.
It is imperative to keep in mind that a funeral is not a place to settle bad blood. If you had problems with the person, do not take the responsibility of writing his memorial.
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Take your time
Do not rush when writing the memorial. When you get the responsibility, start slow. Write in parts and read them repeatedly. A well-edited eulogy is bound to engage the audience more than a rushed piece of writing.
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Rehearse
Once you have written your memorial, rehearse it. Perform it in front of people to understand how it affects others because a speech might not always be okay even though it reads well. Understand where to pause and where to speak to grasp the attention of the audience. Also, make sure you have dressed accordingly for the occasion.
Conclusion
The value of life can never be measured in words, but what we say can pay tribute to their lives. A funeral is a celebration of experience; we celebrate everything they have done and their impact on our lives. Therefore, giving them a proper farewell is a huge responsibility.
Delivering a funeral memorial is a matter of great honor and responsibility. Not only are you considered to be someone special to the person, but you are also given the responsibility to make his or her life memorable to everyone else as well. Thus, you must respect their memory and leave a heartfelt, thought-provoking message for them.
