A tribute is a meaningful method for a person to express his or her feelings for a dead friend or relative. It will also assist those present at the funeral in both grieving and celebrating the life of their loved one. Tributes are often written but they can also be spoken before a crowd of people. The three most common types of tributes are poems, songs, and speeches. Many people like to write their own tributes because it gives them the chance to be creative and express themselves. Some families prefer these things be done by others because they feel like it isn't right to put words into someone's mouth. Regardless, tributes help people process their emotions and come to terms with the death. People often ask if they can give a tribute at the funeral. Most churches have something called "memorials" where you can write out your thoughts about the deceased person. This is similar to a tribute except that it is not written by another person but instead comes from the reader. If you would like to give a tribute at the funeral, then please do so. Families usually receive copies of tributes that were sent in care of them after the death. Although they aren't required to read them, many people find comfort in knowing that others are thinking of them during this difficult time.