The eulogy is perhaps the most important part of a funeral. It is a speech or poem which functions as a tribute to the deceased, and because of this importance, it must be well-crafted and shaped to encompass not only the person's achievements, but also his or her very self. Some of the greatest eulogies touch only briefly on a formal recitation of the person's academic qualifications, year when married, number of children, and so on, and focus more strongly on creating a deep sense of the character, personality, texture of self and evocation of the things that made the person unique and beloved.

Who writes the eulogy? — There is no hard-and-fast rule about who composes the eulogy. Frequently it is written by the funeral celebrant who is trained to express the information given by the family in the most beautiful and effective way. Sometimes a family member will write it. The important thing is that the immediate family feel that it is a perfect eulogy to give tribute to the person who has died.

Who presents the eulogy? — The eulogy may be presented in the funeral service by a close family member or by the funeral celebrant. This depends on the immediate family's decision. There are advantages to either: if read by a family member, it may help them to feel they have properly said goodbye; if read by a funerant celebrant, the presentation is read with all the power and beauty of professional public speaking.

Other readings in the funeral may include poems, scriptures, excerpts from essays or works, or speeches of remembrance. Family members and friends may wish to be involved in presenting these, and they may even wish to read a specially written poem for the deceased. These will be co-ordinated by the funeral celebrant so that the ceremony design will be beautifully organised and the time element will be part of a well-structured whole.

What sort of readings are appropriate? Any sort of reading is fine for a funeral, as long as the reading fits in well with the wishes of the deceased or the family. Poems of hope, of grief or of joy by some of the great poets are frequently included. Family members or friends may have written a poem especially for the funeral. Readings from favourite books or essays by great writers may be chosen. As your funeral celebrant, I will have with me a resource book that contains a great many beautiful and expressive works appropriate for funerals, and will suggest possible poems and readings based on the style of funeral wanted and the character of the person who has died.

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