Nothing is more heartbreaking than the death of a child. Writing a eulogy for a young person can be a difficult task, especially if one was close to the child. As you review the life of the child you are about to eulogize, remember why people do eulogies: to commemorate the person who has died and celebrate their life. (In Greek, eulogia means blessing or praise.) Your job is to sincerely pay a positive tribute to the life of the child who has died. Preparing what to say ahead of time can make the job of writing and delivering a eulogy a little easier. Here are some tips on how to write a eulogy for a child:
gather facts about the child to discover a main theme for the praise. Remember personal stories. Brainstorm what made the child really happy. What will you remember most about the young man? Did the child have a special motto or particular values? Mention special achievements. Get stories from others too. Avoid negative, embarrassing and sad stories.
Keep it simple. Once you start writing your speech, aim for clarity. Big words are not necessary. Neither are the great philosophical insights. Just be honest and speak in a way that is understandable to a child.
Organize: Include the following sections in your eulogy:
— The introduction. Introduce yourself and let others know how connected you are to the child. Your introduction should establish the main theme of the eulogy in a personal way. Consider capturing your listener’s attention through a personal story, an appropriate poem, the child’s favorite song, or part of the child’s favorite story.
— The body. The middle section of the eulogy should include stories that support your theme. For example, if you focus on the child’s courage, you could share stories that demonstrate the child’s courage. Also mention family ties: Talk about how much the parents/guardians and siblings meant to the child.
— The conclusion. In your conclusion, summarize your main points and restore your main theme. The conclusion will explain how much the child meant to you in a short and simple way. In the example of the brave boy, for example, one might conclude by emphasizing the courage that the boy never lacked, perhaps ending with, “This boy faced the world as a prince would face a dragon.”
Consider including media to accompany your speech. Slideshows and video clips are great additions to memorial speeches.
Practice reading the eulogy out loud. and have a friend edit your speech. As you practice, try to keep the length of the praise under 10 minutes.
Make it easier. Use notes in a large font as you deliver the eulogy. These will help you if you are at a loss for words. Give a copy of these notes to a person who is willing to deliver the eulogy in case he becomes too overwhelmed with grief and emotion.
Writing a eulogy for a child is an honor and a great way to help others learn who this young man really was and why he was special. Writing and delivering a eulogy is not only a way to deal with your own grievance, it can help others deal with theirs as well.
~Flora Richards-Gustafson, 2009