How long should a eulogy be? A rule of thumb is to keep it under 10 minutes. A eulogy of between 500 and 1,000 written words will take 3.5 to 7.5 minutes to speak.
A good eulogy is usually between 3-5 minutes long, but can be as long as 10 minutes. This should be more than enough time to include everything you want to say about your loved one, but not so long that you risk losing people's attention.
Write a meaningful eulogy
Eulogies are typically between 5–10 minutes spoken, or about 750–1,000 words written.
The speech is ideally given by someone who knew the person well enough to gather and share memories and highlights of his/her life. Sometimes the choice is obvious within the family. There is often one person who seems to be the unofficial family spokesperson.
Unless you will be following strict religious customs, the number of speakers at your funeral or memorial service is entirely up to you. One way to determine how many speakers you should have is to think about how long you'd like the service to be.
Unless they have chosen to be seated beforehand, the family comes next, chief mourner(s) first, walking with whomever he or she chooses. Close friends may follow, completing the procession. The family and pallbearers occupy the front rows, with friends filling vacant places on either side.
If you're unsure how to end your eulogy, finish with a simple goodbye, or a thank you for the memories you shared. You might choose to use traditional phrases like 'rest in peace' or 'sleep well'. Or you can use something less formal, like a greeting or joke you used to share with the person who has died.
The best eulogies are respectful and solemn, but they also give mourners some comic relief. A bit of roasting is fine if it suits who the person was and the family has a sense of humor. Close your eulogy by directly addressing the person who died, something like “Joe, thank you for teaching me how to be a good father.”
There is no hard and fast rule as to who should give the eulogy speech at a funeral. It's typically given by those who were particularly close, or had a special relationship with, the loved one who passed. It could be a best friend, a spouse, a child or grandchild, or even a co-worker.
Like any speech, a eulogy shouldn't be too long—never more than 10 minutes. Short and sweet is a good rule of thumb, but it's also important not to be hasty or casual when writing and delivering a eulogy. Eulogies generally last between three and five minutes.
Funeral speeches can be extremely difficult. You've just lost someone, you're still in shock and now you've got to get up in front of people and talk about the person you're mourning. However, making a funeral speech can turn out to be a truly beautiful thing.
When introducing yourself to the family at a funeral or memorial service, be proactive. Those grieving will likely not approach you, so you should approach them. It's a good idea to keep your words brief. Say your name, explain your relationship to the person who died, and express your condolences.
In a closed casket funeral, the casket remains closed during the viewing and the funeral service. Family members and guests are not able to see the body, and some prefer this option for a variety of reasons.
Friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and others typically sit on the left. The front rows are reserved for close relatives. If you are a member of the immediate family and there are step-parents or step-siblings, you must take into account where everyone will sit.
The eulogy itself is typically given by a close family member, friend or a minister. There's no reason why two people cannot deliver the eulogy, or in some cases, it may be more appropriate to open the eulogies to all attendees.
A eulogy is a speech given at a memorial service in memory of a person who has died.
It is not written anywhere that you have to speak at your loved one's funeral. There are no rules requiring such a moment. If you feel compelled to greet and thank all those gathered or share your thoughts about your loved one, write your thoughts and have someone else read your words during the service.