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Writing Words of CondolenceA few things, before we start. Keep your letter short, about a page. Don't talk about yourself too much and keep any stories you include brief. Ideally words of condolence should be hand-written. It is acceptable, however, to type a letter if your hand writing is difficult to read. Keep in mind that a hand-written letter is more personal and it will be greatly appreciated by people who seldom recieve "old-fashioned" mail.
Stationary for a Condolence LettersI recommend buying acid-free archival paper or stationary to write on. This makes it possible for the letter to be preserved for generations. I have seen family heritage books that have sympathy letters written from the 1800's. They are a great way to remember and commemorate a loved one.
![]() The First Step is BrainstormingFirst answer the questions as they pertain to your situation. This will give you ideas for your own words of condolence.Here we go:
Now that you have thoughtfully considered these questions it is time to compose your letter. There are seven components to a condolence letter. I will give you a list of half finished sentences for each component. You can either chose a sentence to finish or use it as inspiration to write your own sentence. Acknowledge the loss (use the deceased name).
"I just heard about..." Express your sympathy.
"My heart goes out to you." Note special qualities of the deceased.
"He was..." Include a favorite memory.
"I'll never forget how..." Remind the bereaved of their strengths and special qualities.
"You have always been..." Offer specific help.
"I would love to..." End with a thoughtful word.
"You are in my thoughts" Now, you should have plenty of material to craft a wonderful letter, that is sure to be treasured. If you are looking for a final touch, check out sympathy sentiments. |
"The word that is heard
perishes, but the
letter that is written
remains."
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For words of sympathy in any language use this handy tool!
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