Types of Speeches: The Eulogy

A eulogy is a speech of praise for someone who has just died. It is often given at a funeral or memorial service for the deceased. More often than not, the person who gives the eulogy is a sibling or close friend.

Types of Speeches: The Eulogy

If you decide to become a professional speaker or use speaking as an integral part of your marketing strategy, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the various types of speeches you might be asked to give. In this series of posts, I’ll give you the basics of a variety of types of presentations you can prepare. At the end of this post, I’ve listed previous articles in this series.


Tips for a moving eulogy

Highlight important moments
A eulogy can include a condensed history of the deceased. Chose moments in that person’s history that show how they became the person they were and their personal moments of greatness.

Share your memories
Don’t be afraid to share your personal experiences with the deceased. It is through our actions with others that we illustrate who we are. How this person interacted with you shows the audience the kind of person he or she was.

Share favorites
People are often remembered by the things that they loved most. For example, at my father’s celebration of life, my cousin shared my Dad’s favorite joke. If the deceased had a favorite poem, song, quote or other things you can read and share, do it. This helps the audience remember the good times with that person.

Be vulnerable and share from the heart
When giving a eulogy, it is not the time to play your emotions close to the vest. Everyone there is experiencing a range of emotions … share yours and you’ll not only connect more meaningfully with the audience, but you’ll also help everyone there (yourself included) mourn in a positive way.

Be organized
Like with every other type of speech, the eulogy should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Organize all the pieces into a cohesive whole.

Resources for developing a eulogy

Did you miss these?

Here are the previous posts in this “Type of Speeches” series:


The next post in this series is The Toast.

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About the author

Carma Spence, is author of Public Speaking Super Powers. She is fiercely committed to guiding women to Owning their Superpowers and turning their knowledge and interests into a profitable business. She is masterful at helping her clients see what is possible for them and supporting them on the journey from where they are to where they want to be, releasing the Mind Goblins of self-doubt, self-sabotage and second-guessing that keep them stuck.

With 20+ years experience in marketing communications and public relations, natural intuitive skills and certification in using some of the most effective transformational coaching tools available, Carma’s mission and commitment is to unleash the inner power every woman entrepreneur possesses so they can boldly go out into the world, transforming the fabric of people’s lives in meaningful and positive ways.

You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Her website is CarmaSpence.com.