What IS a Eulogy Speech?

The word eulogy itself does not have anything to do with funerals, or the dead at all. Instead, it comes from a Greek word, “eulogia”. This word means “good word” or “praising speech” and does not have to be used just for funereal purposes. However, today, most of the time when we speak of an eulogy, we are talking about a funeral eulogy – that is, a speech talking about the life and praising a deceased person.

A funeral eulogy is the same thing as a funeral oration, and it is a particular type of speech usually given at the funeral or memorial service of a person who has recently died. It shouldn't be confused with an obituary, which is a printed account of a person's life and last wishes that is usually published in a newspaper. Eulogies are also not obsequies – this term refers to the entire ceremony and rituals surrounding the death of a person and their funeral.

Many different people may be chosen to give a funeral eulogy at the memorial service for a deceased person. In some religions, the minister or other head of a church will speak about the person who has passed on – but this will not happen in a Catholic church, where the priest is supposed to keep to homilies during a funeral Mass. Most eulogies are given by people who were close to the person who died – their families, friends, even coworkers may wish to step up during the ceremony and speak about what sort of person the deceased was, and how he or she touched their life.

Many a funeral eulogy is written after the person has passed on, and so may be very emotional and heartwrenching to give and hear. It may be a last time for the eulogy-giver to speak about all of the good things that the deceased did, but there also may be some bitterness in an eulogy. If this occurs, the best thing to do is to let the speech-giver say his or her piece and not react – causing a scene during a funeral is never appropriate or wanted.

Above all, a funeral eulogy is supposed to be a speech in praise of what the deceased did during his or her life, and not a time for reproach or anger. It is a time to let go of the past and give a good talk about the worth of this person's life.