How To Write a Resolution for a Funeral

Funeral resolutions are meant to offer comforting words during trying times. The death of a loved one is a difficult time and preparing a statement that celebrates that person’s life may seem overwhelming. Still, you can write a resolution for a funeral by following these steps and keeping some key principles in mind.

1. Clear your mind. Grief can often cloud your thinking. Before you sit down to write your resolution try to clear your mind. Don’t think about how the loss has impacted your life or dwell on what you will do next without that loved one in your life. Clear your thoughts.
2. Remember the good times. Once you’ve put the grief in the back of your mind, try to focus on the person you’ve lost. Remember the happy times you had together and why you loved them. Think of two or three happy anecdotes that remind you of the good times and celebrate the life of the one you lost.
3. Remember the family. While funny stories about the time you spent together in Vegas may be amusing to friends, they may not be the stories that the family needs to hear. Remember that the one you lost has other people in their life that matter just as much if not more than you. Keep the family in mind and tell stories that make them happy. If possible, discuss your resolution with a family member before the services so you can be certain they are okay with what you plan to say.
4. Express your sympathy. While talking of the one who is lost it is easy to become distracted in the past. Remember to express your sympathy to the family members. Acknowledge what they have lost.
5. Keep the language simple. You will be reading the speech aloud during an emotional time so write short, simple sentences and don’t fill the speech with complicated vocabulary or terms.
6. Feel free to let your emotion show. Funerals are emotional events so don’t try to hold in emotion you naturally feel. If you are too overcome, have a backup who is willing to read your speech for you. If you are capable of making the speech, don’t try to hold in your feelings or you will come across as cold and monotone. Honest emotion is both healthy and respectful.
7. Trust your instincts. You know the person you are writing about and what they would want. Celebrate their life in a way that honors the person they were. Trust your instincts to know the fine line of memorializing the person you loved.

Funeral resolutions are honorable speeches that celebrate the life of the deceased. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to write a resolution you can be proud of.