Don’t wait for a funeral to say what someone meant to you. Say it while they can answer.

Praise given after somebody is gone is mostly for the people still in the room. The part that reaches the person has to happen while they are here to hear it, and it is strange how often the clearest words get saved for an audience that no longer includes them. Saying it early also lets them answer, which is half of what makes it worth anything.

If somebody shaped you, tell them, in a letter, on the phone, or at the kitchen table. There is no need for a speech. Being specific about one thing they did is plenty.