What to write in a Sympathy card

The sympathy card is a way to express condolences to the relatives of the deceased. In the emotionally charged situation of a death, this encouragement helps to cope better with the loss and the circumstances.

With the card, your personal sympathy would communicate to the recipient that he/she is not alone in this grief. These cards often use religious or secular literature, comforting words or poetry.
Unfortunately, expressing sympathy for someone who has lost a loved one, whether it is a family member, a friend or even a beloved pet can awkward for some. Finding the appropriate words to put together when trying to write a sympathy card is not an exception.

Here are some few tips to help you write a sympathy card:

• The sympathy card should be written and sent as soon as possible.
• Don’t over think your writing style. Keep it simple. The purpose of a sympathy card is to provide support and comfort. In most cases, the recipient won’t be bothered evaluating how you write.
• It is recommended you write your sympathy card by hand. We advise you to put your thoughts to paper on a draft sheet before rewriting them on the card proper.
• There are no rules as to the length of your message. A single sentence such as, “I am sorry to hear about your loss” can suffice.
• If you know the deceased very well, you can share a happy or funny memory about them in writing. Recollecting special moments will go a long way in comforting the recipient and can even put a smile on their faces.
• If the cause of death is tragic, we recommend you keep the note short. Offer assistance and ensure you follow-up on your offer.
• Remind the recipient they are in your thoughts and prayers.
• Close the sympathy note by offering help. This can be offering companionship, running errands, helping with a chore etc.