With a eulogy there is more time to share stories, recollections and anecdotes, including other notable information about the deceases as well as special poems, verses, quotes or passages.
The list below expands on the general information on the "How To How to Write a Eulogy" article, with suggestions for more details to research prior to writing the eulogy. Having more information gives the speech writer (eulogist) a chance to draw from more resources when preparing and writing the eulogy.
The greater the variety of the information gathered in the research part of the process, the easier it will be to write to write the speech. In addition a variety of information makes for a more interesting and memorable memorial speech.
Personal Information
- Person's Age
- Family - marriage(s), children, parents, pets
- Work/Career
- Education
- Hobbies and free time activities
- Places lived
- Membership in social, religious or professional organizations
- Offices held in government, professional or community organizations
- Military service
- Special life events
- Special accomplishments, achievements and awards
Additional Notable Information
- Beliefs, cherished values
- Life philosophies
- Poems, quotes, or letters written by the deceased (as a way of bringing his or her own voice into the service)
- Special poems, quotes, passages or verses
Reminisces and Recollections
- Family stories and anecdotes
- Friends' stories and anecdotes
- Coworkers' stores and anecdotes
- Colleagues' stores and anecdotes
- Favorite quotes, expressions of the deceased
Additions for Religious Service
- Favorite Religious Text verses
- Favorite Religious Text readings or passages
- Prayers, Blessings
- Sermon, homily, speech
Organizing Material – A Helpful PDF File
Organizing the background information, stories and reminisces about the person who has died can be helpful in the early stages when you are researching material before starting to write a eulogy or a memorial speech. Copy the information from this page, or download a copy of our "Useful Information for Writing a Eulogy" to help in organizing the personal details needed for the speech.
The facts collected for the "Additional Notable Information," "Reminisces and Recollections" and if needed the "Additions for Religious Service" can be organized on separate note cards, separate pages of paper or separate folders if using a computer system and then incorporated in the appropriate sections when writing the eulogy.
More Information and Useful Resources:
