A celebration of life event is one way to honor a loved one after they pass away, in addition to many other events and services that can be held in their memory. Celebration of life events are becoming increasingly more popular as the event gives families the most freedom to decide how they wish to honor and remember their loved one. The event is typically more joyful and focused on the celebration of the person who has died, rather than focusing solely on the sorrow surrounding their passing.

It can be extremely difficult to speak at your loved one’s celebration of life, but preparing a written eulogy, speech, or general outline ahead of time will help make it easier when the day comes. The writing process can also bring you closer to the deceased and help you honor them by reflecting on their life, the things that made them great, and the impact that they had on those around them.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Share the history and origins of your loved one. While many of those in attendance at the celebration of life may have known the deceased for a long time, some may not know their full history. It’s always nice to share a bit about where they came from and how they got to the different places and stages of their life. A beautiful way to honor your loved one is to tell guests the little details that they may not know about their journey and the little steps along the way. Writing this part of your speech or eulogy is also a good way to reflect and perhaps learn more about the deceased.

2. Share your favorite stories and memories of them. The easiest way to speak about your loved one at their celebration of life is to speak from the heart and share stories and memories that you remember and loved during your time with them. These stories can help to illustrate the love you shared and really highlight some of their best qualities. Share stories of their determination or generosity, but also, share stories about the direct impact they had on your life, even if in small ways. These memories can be the most touching and beautiful to share with those who knew them during different times in their life.

3. Talk about their legacy. Chances are the deceased left behind an important legacy and impact on their family and community. This is the perfect time to share all of the ways in which your loved one changed their world and the lives of others. If they were involved in community service or philanthropy, you can discuss their favorite organizations and what they did to help. Sharing their efforts is a beautiful way to inspire and appreciate who they were in life, and the lasting impact that made.

4. Share their passions and loves. If your loved one had specific passions or favorite hobbies, it would be nice to talk about those things during your speech. This can help illustrate who the deceased was during his or her life and the kind of life they led. Nothing is really off limits during this time, and whatever you feel would help honor and celebrate the deceased is good to share.

5. Thank everyone. Be sure to thank everyone for coming and supporting you and your family, as well as everyone involved in the planning process. At the beginning or end of your speech would be great times to thank anyone that helped in any way! You can also share how much it would have meant to your loved one to see all of the people that impacted their life in some way in one room together. Remember, this is not just a celebration of your loved one, but also, a celebration of their experiences, relationships, and memories that so many have an appreciation for.

If you’re looking for a venue for an upcoming celebration of life, let Occasions4.us be your guide. We’ve partnered with five venues in the Las Vegas area — including The Legacy Golf Club and Wildhorse Golf Club in Henderson, the Spanish Trail Country Club in Las Vegas, Aliante Golf Club in North Las Vegas, as well as Primm Valley at the California-Nevada border — and our relationships with caterers, event coordinators and photographers means that you won’t have to spend the day organizing and ensuring that everything goes off without a hitch. Our facilities include private meeting rooms and banquet space, equipment rentals (projectors, tv’s, screens, microphones), unobtrusive staff, catering and banquet menus, and packaging and pricing options available based on setup requirements.

Your wishes will be honored and respected as we seek to lighten your load at this delicate time. Remember, Occasions4.us event consultants are here to help make this celebration special in every way.