At the meeting please have with you anyone who you think might make a significant contribution in helping me understand the life of your loved one and what made them special. This would normally, but not exclusively, be close family members and/or close friends. If there are peopIe who you would like to be at the meeting, but they cannot make it then please either write their stories down in advance of meeting me, or ask them to email me their memories directly. It helps if people have thought about stories before they meet with me. I recognise that you are going through a very tough time and will deal with you and your families and friends in a professional and sympathetic manner. If anyone is emailing me, then please let me know so that, if I need to, I can check with you that the email has arrived. I may ask your permission to record the meeting as an aide memoire for my preparations. Any such recordings are deleted as soon as the eulogy has been confirmed.
At the meeting, I aim to get a clear understanding of who your loved one was. Some examples of information you might share with me are, stories about their passions and interests; the highlights of their life; their jobs and memorable holidays; things that made them laugh, and daily routines.