subject: What To Say At A Funeral [print this page] If you have been asked to speak at a funeral service is an honor, for you are helping to recreate the life of a loved one at a painful time. The speech is to pay tribute to the one who has passed on by talking about whom they were as a person, whose lives they had touched and what made their life so special. It is also a speech in which you are trying to comfort the bereaved family by assuring them that they aren't alone in their hour of grief. At this juncture you are also dealing with your own emotions and making decisions can be difficult, review your comments with a friend or a relative who has experience in officiating funerals
In a memorial speech you can talk about the following:
Background: In this you can tell the gathering as what had shaped the deceased ones life.
Relationships: In this you can say the relationship you had with the deceased and what factors of his had made a difference in your own life.
Milestones: In this you can express your ideas on the deceaseds achievements in life.
Special: In this, you can recall any special anecdote or event which you had shared with the deceased.
In every condolence speech there is some or the other taboo to be followed. These are:
You should remember never to ask the family members for details on how the deceased passed away. Many of the funeral announcements do mention if the death was caused by sickness or accident. If you don't know the details, find out another way.
You should remember not to bring up any bad feelings towards the deceased in his/her funeral service. Even if there was bad history between you, those feelings should have no place at a funeral.
In a funeral service you should never refer to the person as "the deceased." You should always use the person's name when speaking about him or her to the family.
It is rightly said that the face shows it all. Hence, your feelings will be shown on your face and heard in your voice.
These days with the advent of the internet, many people also offer condolences by signing online guest books that families can read again for ongoing emotional support. Your entry in an online guest book can mirror what you would say to the family in person. Write a condolence message from the core of your heart, express your sympathy and support, and share a special memory of the familys loved one if you wish.
In the condolence speech it should be remembered to keep the speech to not more than two minutes. You should remember to give the minister a copy of what you are going to say so that they can make sure that there is no double up on the content.
Hence, if you follow these simple steps you can always make a condolence speech which can be remembered by everyone for years to come.
