"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. From an Irish headstone"
- Richard Puz, The Carolinian

You've been asked to deliver the Eulogy at your loved ones funeral. Where do you begin? Start with the purpose and definition of a eulogy.

A eulogy is a short speech of praise usually delivered at the beginning of a funeral proceeding. When considering the length of the speech, remember that this is your final moment to commemorate an important person in your life. While most are about 5 minutes in length, if you feel the need to lengthen the eulogy, use your best judgment.

The organization or structure can also be your choice. Many people tell a life story chronologically. You may also pick out defining characteristics of the deceased and organize your remarks in more of a bullet point fashion.

Write out your message, just in case you need to have someone else read your remarks. Sometimes the day of the funeral is overwhelming and emotional. It's best to be prepared with a back-up plan and let your alternate read through the eulogy a few times before.

Practice the eulogy enough to deliver it without reading it verbatim. You will want to work off notes instead of reading the eulogy. Write your remarks as you would speak and speak slowly.