Sympathy Letter Tips and a Sample Letter of Sympathy

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The following sympathy letter tips and sample letters can make it much easier to write a letter that will be treasured for years to come.

• Use the deceased's name.
• Make it personal.
• Find a nice solid-colored stationery. Cream, white or ivory are good choices.
• Make sure the stationery you use is archival and acid-free to make your letter easier to preserve.
• As a general rule, a letter of sympathy should be hand-written with black ink.
• Keep your sympathy message brief.
• Accept that there is nothing you can say to take away their grief and pain. Instead make it your goal to show your support and care.
• Still send a sympathy card even if it will be late. Bereaved individuals usually are still glad to recieved a belated card or letter, but completely being ignored at such a difficult time and be harder to deal with.
• Do not display pity. Pity and sympathy are very different.
• You may want to mention that you do not expect a response or a thank you card.

A Comforting Sympathy Letter: Tips for Writing a Letter That Celebrates a Loved One's Life

• Telling about visits to your home
• Recalling favorite memories and good times shared
• Sharing lessons learned from him or her
• Reminding them of a favorite saying by them

Should I Send a Letter or a Sympathy Note?

Next, have a look at some sympathy letter examples.

You may also be interested in:

A sample letter of sympathy (suitable for a variety of circumstances).

Inspiring sympathy letters shared by our readers.

Back to Sample Condolence Letter

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