Speeches
Speeches
Some people seem to have the ability to choose the right words for all occasions, but most of us need a few prompts. Below we have a few starters in the way of eulogy ideas, popular quotes and poems.
It is essential to cover material that has direct relevance to the deceased for example :
* Your relationship to the deceased
* Special traits you remember - preferably with appropriate examples
* Reminisce about the deceased's childhood, early career or aspects of their life of which many may be unaware
* Stress the best qualities of the deceased - no negatives
* Only if necessary use a quote or poem
Starter Lines:
Let me offer some fond memories of Jane.......
The first words Jim said to me were, " Can I give you a hand with that?"......
It was impossible not to like Thomas......
Jane did a number of significant things for this community.....
We will miss you Thomas.....
As much as our community has suffered a great loss, his family has suffered a greater loss because Thomas .....
I worked with Jane for 12 years, what a wonderful work companion ......
Quotes
William Shakespeare
Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end.
Book of Common Prayer
In the midst of life we are in death.
St. Paul
All things work together for good to them that love the Lord,
Anon
Grief is not forever - but love is.
Irving Berlin
The song is ended (but the melody lingers on)
Noel Coward
I'll see you again, Whenever Spring breaks through ....
Minnie Louise Haskins
I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown'. And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness and put your into the hand the hand of the God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way!'
Poems
From "Twelve Songs" by W H Auden
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a a juicy bone,
Silance the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policeman wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I though that love would lastfor ever : I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now : put out ever one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.
John Addey
Love doesn't end with dying
Or leave with the last breath.
For someone you've loved deeply,
Love doesn't end with death.
Laurence Binyon
...........
They went with songs tothe battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them.
.......