Writing Sympathy Thank You Notes

Writing sympathy thank you notes can be a rewarding task. It can be comforting to think about all the people who offered love and support. I think it is important to bear in mind that nobody is expecting much from the bereaved.

It is fine to send a basic card. If you want to write a letter or note, it only needs to be brief. The following examples will give you some ideas of how to reply to sympathy.

A Sample Sympathy Thank You Message Written on Behalf of the Bereaved

Many bereaved individuals ask a friend or family member to help them get all the thank you cards out. There is no need to explain why a letter is written on their behalf. If you are going to be helping a loved one with this task, here are some more hints for helping with sympathy thank you cards.

Dear Christy,
On behalf of my father, please accept his sincere thanks for the gift you sent in memory of Mary. The kindness of good friends like you is helping us through this difficult time.
Yours sincerely,
Susan Thomas

A Sympathy Thank You Note for Flowers

Once again you do not need to send a thank you note to everyone who sent flowers. It is easy to lose track of who sent which arrangement. If you do decide to send thank you cards for flowers, here is an example.

Dear Samantha,
Just to let you know that your love and support during this difficult time is appreciated. The beautiful white lilies you sent were a comfort to me. On behalf of my family, I thank you.
Gratefully yours,
Rachel Baker

Thank You Note for Sympathy Gifts

If somebody has sent a personalized gift or memorial gift, they probably are eager to hear if their gift was recieved and also if it was appreciated.

When thanking someone for a financial gift do not mention the amount. Simply refer to the money as "your generous gift." If you like you can let them know what you spent the money on such as the services, catering, flowers or headstone.

Dear Nelson Family,
I wanted to thank you for the beautiful sympathy basket. It was so thoughtful of you to send. We were comforted by your kind gesture and we appreciate you love and support.
With Love,
Nancy Bennet

Sympathy Thank You Notes to Physicians

Some people like to send a thank you cards to nurses, doctors, hospice workers or hospital staff who helped their loved one during their final days. Here are some examples of sympathy thank you messages.

Dear Dr. Keats,
Our family is grateful for your expertise in caring for our father, William Monroe. You and your staff were always so kind and helpful to us. Thank you for all that you do.
Warm Regards,
Joan Bently

Dear Tracy Mittleman,
You have been such a comfort to our family. Thank you for caring for our mother so lovingly. Your kindness and attention helped her during her last days and we are grateful for all the helpful information you were able to share with us.
With much gratitude,
Jean Sherman

Sympathy thank you notes do not need to be long. A few lines or two are perfect. For some more ideas on how to close your letter go to sympathy sentiments.