cant help you much. when my parents die, i will be the oldest child and there is no possible way i could ever handle it. i wont even be able to sit in the church without having a breakdown

when my last grandparent died recently, my youngest cousin..i think 14..did it and read something that went on and on and on. it was however, very good and from the heart and touched alot of people. if the person meant something to you, i guess say what you loved about that person and give an example or two that everyone can identify with. i think reading it is just fine if its well written. good luck and sorry for the loss

I was at a funeral for a relative and the sons couldn't do it so and old friend did it and was terrific recounting a lot of good times and some funny stuff. Then he read a short piece from another close friend who chose to or could not speak. It was awful. And, it made you fell sorry for the writer, not the deceased or his family. I have never looked upon this man with much admiration since.

The moral is whether you speak or not, choose your words carefully as they will reflect on you. For my dad, I mostly said to the folks there, "Thanks for coming. He would have enjoyed seeing all of you."

"The bar is open."

Cliff,

Speak from the hearts...the right words will be there. Go slow, take deep breaths and look up. You'll be fine!

thanks guys. i did fine!! it was brutal. everyone crying. we told stories of days past.

my brother walked up and took the mic when i was done. he freestyled..a rif. he cracked people up with the story when my step dad put a 12 gauge shotgun and ventilated a hole in his new duramax truck.

thanks for the tips. correct, i did not read.

Great! Good to hear. Another challenge past.