Life Stories

Rhonda Neighbourly Lead from Hastings Central

Hi there,
As a Funeral Celebrant, I have had the privilege of writing several Life Stories or Eulogies. I have also observed family members writing a eulogy for their loved ones.

Preparing someone's life story and for the people listening - a eulogy is a significant and memorable time for family members or close friends.
But they take hours, often days, to write.
The eulogies and life stories that are the easiest to prepare have been where the loved one has taken time to write some of their life stories.

Almost everyone had a life and a story before they met the person who has the privilege of writing their eulogy.
E.g. Parents had a lot of living before their kids came along.
Often events and occasions are not known because they were not talked about or they were forgotten.
After his wife had died and the adult children were all gathered around, a lovely 90-year-old gentleman told me things the children had never heard before, including how he had built a canoe so the young couple could go down the river rapids. Because they could not swim, they took a jerrycan to use as a buoyancy aid! He also told me that he had helped rescue people in the Tangiwai Disaster! None of the children had ever heard these stories – let alone that their mother used to ride a motorbike!

If the Dad had not been there at 90 to tell those stories, they would have been lost and forgotten. Thankfully he was, and he was a great storyteller!

When a diary or journal of some sort has been written, the family describe that to be like GOLD. They treasure it and will often make copies, so others can also enjoy it.

With this in mind, I would like to encourage you to begin recording your stories. You can draw or use mind maps or brainstorms. Using simple sentences and paragraphs work well.
I have an easy to follow formulae for people to use if they would like to begin recording their stories.
Writing or making voice recordings of some of your story is highly recommended.
I am here to chat with you further if that would be helpful. My email is RhondaDiprose@gmail.com or phone is 0278299984.
Bye for now
Rhonda Diprose
Funeral Celebrant Hawke's Bay
©RhondaDiprose2019