“I’m writing a eulogy for my dad.” Those words are always pronounced with sadness. It’s an emotionally challenging time after your father’s death. You instantly miss him and once the decision has been made on who will deliver the eulogy for him, and it’s you, there’s a lot on your shoulders. Trying to find the right words to capture the essence of someone so fundamental in your life is never easy. Preparing and delivering it while being compassionate and serene is even more difficult.
It’s always good to start with an outline when preparing a eulogy for a parent. He wants to include the right balance of his role as a father, as well as all the other hats they wore throughout his life. Although he was your father, he was also a brother, husband, coworker, and friend.
Talk to other people close to him. Gather the thoughts and stories of him. It’s a good idea to bring a notepad so you can jot down tips to help you prepare your speech at a later date. Pay close attention to how people talk about him, his tone of voice, and his affection. You’ll want to mention that in your eulogy, as it’s not just about the tangible stories, but deeply about how it touched other people’s lives.
One quality of a memorable and moving eulogy is to always focus on the personality of the individual and the characteristics that defined him. Perhaps your father was known for a certain saying or was passionate about a particular hobby. Include feelings about it in your father’s eulogy. It’s a nice touch to include some of the short stories others have shared with you. It makes everyone in the room feel as if they are an important part of the remembrance and grieving processes. Do not walk away from comic memories. It’s okay to smile and laugh when you think of him.
Don’t be afraid to be a little unconventional when delivering your speech in honor of your late father. Playing his favorite song or showing a short movie clip of himself are completely acceptable ways of showing the man he was.
More than anything else, celebrate his life more than you mourn his death. His eulogy will serve as a lasting reminder to all in attendance of how remarkable and beloved his father was and how fortunate everyone was to know and love him.