Keep it simple. That’s a motto that applies in spades for speech writing. Remember you are writing for the ear, not the page. The following is a speech I wrote in about an hour. I knew the speaker was terrified of public speaking and she was going to have to stand up and talk at a memorial for her great Aunt.The only information I had was that she liked animals and playing poker.
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for coming out for Ev’s memorial today.
Standing up and giving a speech, even in front of friends, makes me quite nervous. So I hope you will forgive me if I am a little shaky. But of course if my voice cracks a little, it will not be because of being nervous. But because it is difficult for me to speak of Aunt Ev without becoming emotional.
Even though her passing was not unexpected, we are never really prepared for the loss of a beloved relative, or a steadfast friend. And Evelyn was both to me.
There is something quite special about a great Aunt. She plays a different kind of role than a grandmother. At least Ev did with me. She was part grandmother in that she always was concerned in the way any older - and wiser - member of the family might be. But she was also my friend. I could talk to her about anything. And I did.
I visited her often, and we chatted on the phone weekly. I looked forward to our talks as much as I am sure she did. I learned much about our family and history, and grew to understand my life better as we talked about the adventures of our respective relatives over the years.
It is impossible to sum up someone’s life in a few short minutes. If I tell you she loved animals, laughing, and playing poker - that will tell you a lot about the free spirit that she was.
I will miss our talks and her wisdom. I will miss her laughter even more. She was a good woman and a fine friend.
Rest in peace Aunt Ev.
February 5th, 2008
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