How Can Having An Overriding Life Theme Help When Writing A Eulogy?

Writing a eulogy when someone you loved has died is challenging. So don’t feel you are on your own worrying about what to say. Writing a eulogy for a close person who died for their funeral or memorial service is the hardest speech you will make. But to say those few words at a celebration of their life is perhaps the last and most special gift you can give them. 

In this blog post, I’ll explore how having an overriding life theme can help you when writing a funeral eulogy. I will also provide tips and three overriding eulogy themes examples from real eulogies to inspire and guide you.

How Can You Capture The Essence of a Person’s Life in a Funeral Speech?

As a professional eulogy writer, I know it can be confusing sometimes, even what a eulogy is? Even the word can be confusing. People search for ‘How to write a eulogy’ as well as, ‘How to write ulogy,’ or even funeral euology. It can be confusing, I know.

I understand when someone you loved, a family member, or a good friend died, you need advice, help and support, and in a quick and simple way. Everything can feel confusing at those times. So, I do what I do as a eulogy writer offering tips and advice, and a range of eulogy writing services to help you navigate the confusion.

It’s also why I want to help you by giving you my experience in these eulogy writer advice posts.

One tool that can help you start writing a eulogy and navigate this difficult task is to look for an overriding life theme. It can help you in writing a eulogy or funeral speech which everyone who hears your words will say, ‘Yes, that’s the person I remember.’

By reflecting on the core values and beliefs that guided the person’s life as an overriding life theme, you can write a eulogy that truly captures their spirit. And I’m here to help you at every step do that by sharing my advice as a eulogy writer.

What Is An Overriding Life Theme for A Eulogy?

An overriding life theme is where one personality theme and character trait sums up the close person you are writing the funeral speech for succinctly. It’s a way to focus your words, poem, songs, even instrumental music around so that your funeral speech or memorial service speech captures the true essence of the person.

For example, it could be they faced many challenging periods, or major events in their life. Perhaps they fought with courage through an illness or served their country with bravery? As a result, it made them a person of commitment, someone determined, stoic and resilient. You could describe their overriding life theme as being an ‘Overcomer.’

Maybe your memories are whenever you saw the person, they were smiling, optimistic, the glass of their life overflowing to everyone around them. Their overriding theme could be how they were always bringing sunshine and positivity into the lives of others.

Perhaps it was their kindness and commitment to others or a caring nature, which was an overriding theme in their life. Maybe empathy was the defining theme of their life?

Or friendship is the word that summarises their life? Were they the type of person who put friendship above all else? You could say friendship was of the utmost importance to them. It was a core value they upheld. They were loyal friends who put others before themselves.

It may even be the overriding theme of their life that they were stubborn and single-minded! It’s no surprise often played at funerals is ‘My Way’ by Frank Sinatra. This is the reason!

How Can You Find An Overriding Life Theme for A Eulogy?

More than making a guess at it, you uncover an overriding life in thinking about their personality themes and character traits. It’s there when you remember what made them the unique person they were. You will find an overriding life theme could emerge without thinking about. You find it when you remember the life stories of the deceased person.

Start by make a list of their unique mix of personality themes and character traits. You may find you keep coming back to the same thoughts.

For example, descriptive words such as unselfish, serving, a kind person who loved everyone seem to capture and define everything they did. It is as if the person lived their life for the love of others. It may be, when talking to family and friends, it’s the same words and themes which are used by them too. 

What Is The Benefit of Using Overriding Life Theme In A Eulogy?

Having an overriding life theme for a eulogy can help provide structure and focus, making the words you say memorable. In the right circumstances, it can help you to build your eulogy words around a life theme. It makes it simpler to write your words and easier for friends and family members to remember what you have said.

It is common these days to have a printed order of service at a funeral or a memorial service. Their life theme will come to mind all over again when rereading the title in the order of the service booklet. As they read the title and a relevant quote, it will bring back your words about the person to their memory. 

3 Eulogy Examples of Using An Overriding Life Theme

Following are three eulogy examples of titles and quotations I’ve used in writing eulogies.

I’ve also added a few notes to help you with the type of personalities, characteristics and themes and situations they represented. While they are not full eulogy templates, they can help you start to build a theme for your words. 

An Overriding Life Theme Eulogy Title:

‘A Friend Who Held Life Together.’

Quotation by Jon Katz:

‘I think if I’ve learned anything about friendship, it’s to hang in, stay connected, fight for them, and let them fight for you. Don’t walk away, don’t be distracted, don’t be too busy or tired, don’t take them for granted. Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together.’

Eulogy themes. 

• Friendship. 

• Companionship. 

• Loyalty. 

• Support. 

• Kindness. 

• Trustworthy. 

• Confidant.

An Overriding Life Theme Eulogy Title:

‘You Could Never Take That Unceasing Shine Away.’

Quotation by Walt Whitman:

‘Some people are so much sunshine to the square inch.’

Eulogy themes. 

• Resilience. 

• Determination. 

• Smile. 

• Overcoming. 

• Determined. 

• Resolute.

An Overriding Life Theme Eulogy Title:

‘Greater Than Riches.’

Quotation by Henry Fielding

‘I am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and he to whom that is given need ask no more.’

Eulogy themes. 

• Contentment. 

• Gratitude. 

• Joy. 

• Happiness. 

• Satisfied. 

• Ease.

What’s The Next Step You Need To Take?

In conclusion, writing a eulogy for a loved family member or person who has died can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and approach, it can be a beautiful way to celebrate the life of someone you love. I hope now you can see how one helpful tool is to identify an overriding life theme that captures the essence of the person you are writing a eulogy about. 

If you are struggling to write a eulogy, maybe the next step I could encourage you to review my eulogy writing service page or download the free eulogy writing guide - 101 Questions For Writing A Eulogy. Remember, delivering a eulogy is a special gift you can give to your loved one, so take your time and craft a speech that honours their memory and brings comfort to those who are grieving. If you need any help, please contact me. 

Coming Soon A Complete and Comprehensive Eulogy Writing Toolkit!

‘I Just Want To Say A Few Words.’ – A Simple and Easy Step-by-Step Guide How To Write a Eulogy for A Loved One, Friend or Colleague.

• A Simple Four Step Process For Writing A Eulogy That Works!

• 10 worksheets to guide your words.

• 6 Bonus Resources sharing advice from 10 years of writing eulogies!