A friend’s funeral is a sad occasion, and you must prepare to deliver a speech. You don’t have to be an orator or even a natural speaker, but it does help if you have some experience with public speaking. The purpose of this article is not just for those planning to speak at a friend’s funeral; but also for those assisting someone else in planning their friend’s. It helps to have both types because there will be times when the focus will be on mourning rather than giving praise or expressing gratitude for all the life-lasting memories shared between friends and loved ones.
Here’s How to write a eulogy for a friend
A eulogy can be thought of as a way to say goodbye to a loved one. If a friend died unexpectedly, this is a way to express your final thoughts and bring closure to yourself and your loved ones. Eulogies are usually included in funerals and memorial services, but you can also write one privately.
Finding the appropriate words to say can be difficult, especially after the death of a loved one. Here are some suggestions for writing a eulogy for a friend who died.
- Find out about the formalities regarding the funeral.
To prepare for the funeral speech, you must first ask the funeral home about their formalities. The details of your loved one’s funeral will help determine what kind of speech you should deliver and how long it should be. It’s also important to know if there is a dress code for attendees at the service (e.g., black clothes).
- Write notes.
There are a few ways to write a farewell speech, but the one I find most effective is writing down your thoughts on paper. You can do it before or after the funeral, depending on how long it takes for you and others in attendance to get through the ceremonies. You may want to include some quotes or anecdotes about your friend’s life that will help keep his memory alive long after he’s gone.
If possible, try keeping your notes separate from any other material related to the event itself—you don’t want anyone else reading them!
- Talk about how your lives came together.
You can start by talking about the first time you met. What was it like? Where did it happen, and how long did it last? Did you become friends right away or not until later on?
What about other people who weren’t around when this happened but have been in your life ever since then? Do they know about these events, or do they not know them?
If specific memories stand out from those early days—like a birthday party where everyone sang happy birthday together or shared an ice cream cone—then share those with us now!
- Share your favorite memories.
It’s important to share the memory of your friend in a way that shows how much they meant to you, how they impacted your life, and how much they made you laugh. It’s also vital not to be afraid of being too emotional, happy, or sad while delivering this speech. You should feel free to talk about the good times together and remember the life lessons they taught you over time—that makes this type of speech so special!
- Today is not about us; it is about them.
In a funeral speech, you discuss the deceased and their life. It will help if you show that while they may be gone, you will never forget them. Don’t be scared to talk about yourself or your relationship with someone who has passed away. It’s okay if you cry during this time; everyone does at some point in their lives—even if it’s not in front of anyone but yourself (or maybe just one other person).
- Quotes that relate to the person.
It’s important to honor the person who has passed away with quotes that relate to them. If you were close friends with the person, it might be easier to quote them directly and use their words instead of trying to come up with something yourself. Also, remember that you don’t have to limit yourself only to using quotes from other people; plenty of famous authors and movie directors have said great things about life or death (or both!).
- Some of the person’s favorite things.
You may want to share some of their favorite things with the audience, like their favorite food or movie. If the person was an avid reader, you could talk about a book they enjoyed reading that you read together.
You could also share something from your childhood that relates to them and what made them special in your life—or even something from years ago when you first got to know each other.
- Maybe a joke or two about them.
When it comes to making jokes about the deceased, there’s no right or wrong way. Some people think a joke about their death is inappropriate, and others think it’s appropriate. If you are unsure if it is fair to make a joke, don’t do it! You can always come up with something in your speech that will keep people laughing so they won’t be too sad while saying goodbye.
If you make a few jokes at your friend’s funeral service, make sure that these are tasteful ones that don’t insult anyone’s feelings or offend anyone else in attendance, especially if this person used humor as part of their lifestyle!
A Eulogy Example for a Friend
If it’s your first time writing a eulogy, you might be confused about what to say and what not to say. So, here’s a short eulogy example for a beloved friend who died.
“Thank you all for being here today to say goodbye to my beloved friend, Sebastian. I met Sebastian about six years ago while we were performing in Memphis. We connected after that first set and went on to form our jazz band, eventually performing in New Orleans. Sebastian was not a formal person, and he would never want me to eulogize him. He was humble, and his music was almost as important to him as his family and friends. Sebastian once told me that he could give up beer, pizza, and chocolate peanuts (all of which he adored), but the one thing he couldn’t live without was music. So, Sebastian, this song is dedicated to you, brother; you are the one thing in life I never thought I’d have to give up!”
Short Condolences: What to Say When Someone Dies
Here’s a list of short condolences that you can say to your friends whose best friend has recently died.
- Not once forget that you have people who care about you.
- I am sharing your sorrow with love and friendship.
- Bear in mind that you are not unaccompanied and that I am always available to you.
- My heart breaks for your loss.
- I wish you peacefulness to bring comfort, courage to face the days ahead, and loving memories of the deceased to appreciate for the rest of your lifetime.
- Please accept my heartfelt sympathies. I’m sending you care, peace, and courage.
- I’m sending you positive energy to help you through this difficult time.
- The entire office thinks of you and is available to you in any way you require.
- We were devastated to learn of your death because you had become a family member. We are thinking about you.
- May the love of family and memories of the deceased surround you and give you strength in the days ahead.
- Please know that we are thinking of you, remembering (Name), and honoring his/her/their life.
- He will always be there in our minds and hearts.
- She will leave a void in all of our lives.
- The family will be different without him/her/them.
- Everyone is thinking of you.
- I will miss him terribly.
- Along with you, I am missing the deceased.
- Amid your grief, we pray that the light of God’s face shines on you.
- Your loss deeply saddens us; may our prayers guide his soul to our Heavenly Father. Heartfelt condolences!
- God is our refuge and strength, a constant help in times of trouble.
- I leave with you my peace.
- May my Creator bless and comfort you and your family during this difficult time.
Conclusion:
You can use this funeral speech as a chance to talk about how you miss them, but it’s also okay if you want to skip that part. It’s not a requirement or anything like that! I think it’s important for the person who is delivering the funeral speech to be able to share some memories on their own because those are what will stick with people most after the ceremony has ended.
In addition, there are many different ways in which you can incorporate humor into your speech—from jokes about what made them laugh when they were alive throughout life.
We hope this article has been helpful. Good Luck!
