Funerals are meant to provide a proper send off to the dead, as well as provide an opportunity to the living to pay their last respects to the deceased. It also helps the friends and family of the deceased to accept the devastating loss and start the process of acceptance and healing. You can reflect the life of your loved one through funeral tributes at the memorial service.
If you have been asked to give a speech, take time to prepare. This will help you know what to say and what to leave out. It will also help you prepare psychologically to honor the deceased person. You can opt to write down your main thoughts so as to avoid loosing your train of thought when giving your speech.
Include some of the major stepping stones and achievements that the deceased had. Share stories and memories of the deceased person that many people who have attended the memorial service can identify with. Research about the deceased so as to find out as much about them as possible before giving your speech.
Share on how the person influenced your life. This could be by something you observed in their life or something they said to you. Be genuine and real when giving your speech. This will help you connect better with the people you are talking to.
Don't be afraid to cry or show some bit of emotion. However, do not let your emotions get so out of hand that you are unable to continue with your speech. Try and provide comfort to the deceased friend and family whether directly or indirectly through your speech.
Know the time limitations that you have. Find out how many minutes you have to talk. This is because there are usually many other people who also want to give funeral tributes too. Your speech should be short enough to effectively pass across the message you want.
