Thinking about getting up and speaking at someone's funeral is never a pleasant image. Unfortunately, most people will have to give a eulogy speech at one time or another, and it's good to know that you can be prepared for this eventuality. Whether you will be speaking at a large funeral in a church or a small memorial service in an intimate setting, with a few tips, you should be able to easily give a good speech without being too nervous.

The first thing to think about if you know that you will be giving an eulogy speech is writing the speech itself. Don't leave it to the last minute, and hastily scrawl down some items about the deceased that you will randomly talk about. Instead, plan out your entire speech. Write it down on index cards so that you can have the eulogy with you for easy reference when you stand up in front of the funeral congregation. Take the time to research how to write your eulogy ? whether you check out a book from the library, browse through some resources at the local bookstore or do a search on the Internet.

Another important factor is rehearsal. If at all possible, rehearse your eulogy speech before standing up in front of people who were important to the person who passed on. It will look much better for you and for all of the friends and family if you aren't stuttering over every word that you say in your eulogy. That's not to say that you can't show emotion ? crying, and other sounds of being upset are perfectly normal. Sounding like you are completely unprepared is not.

If you are giving an eulogy speech, it is also important to consider how you dress. Etiquette no longer dictates that people attending a funeral wear all black dress, but it's not appropriate to wear bright colors either. Try to wear muted colors and professional, or office style dress, so as to look like you are in mourning. Colors such as dark gray, navy and brown are all acceptable for funerals today ? but don't pair them with flashy patterns or wear anything too revealing.

Putting a little thought into your eulogy speech will make this troubling time go a bit easier ? and will keep one less thing from worrying you at the funeral. Being prepared will also make your speech more easy to listen to, a benefit for all the funeral goers.