What to Write in a Sympathy Card?
Getting Started with a Sympathy Card
Sympathy Cards Messages, Quotes and Poems
A sympathy card or letter communicates your feelings of compassion, understanding and concern for the one who has lost someone close and dear. A sympathy card does not need to be elaborate or two wordy yet it should deliver your feelings and concern for your friend, colleague or relative.
When to Write a Sympathy Card?
A sympathy card is written when someone dear to your friend, colleague, relative, business acquaintance passes and you wish to inform them of your concern and compassion.
Here are a few samples sympathy cards that help convey your compassion.
Format of a Sympathy Card
Opening Salutations
Dear Julie,
Dear Julie and John,
Dear Julie, John and Family,
Dear Hopkins Family,
Body
Formatting of the body depends on the kind of acquaintance you had with the deceased. In case of knowing the bereaved but having no acquaintance with the deceased you can write:
- You have my sincere condolences on the loss of your mother.
- Please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the passing of your dear uncle.
- You have my deepest sympathies on the death of your grandfather.
- I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family.
- I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you.
On the other hand, if you personally knew the deceased but are not acquainted with the bereaved:
- Julie will be sorely missed by us.
- Julie will be sadly missed but warmly remembered in our office.
- I will especially miss Julie’s warm smile and kindness.
- John’s character was an inspiration to so many.
- Julie was a dear friend and she will always be remembered well.
Closing Your Sympathy Message
Closings are mostly kept simple and clean.
Regards,
Your sincerely,
Truly yours,
Expressive Words of Sympathy, Comfort and Condolences
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I’m praying for you You are in my thoughts With Deepest Sympathy My sincere sympathy With Heartfelt Condolences Our thoughts and prayers are with you He/She will never be forgotten The memory of him/her will always be in our hearts Thinking of you Thinking of you during this difficult time May God’s Grace strengthen you May your heart and soul find peace and comfort With loving memories of “name of deceased”, Sent with love and remembrance, Remembering you and “name of deceased” in our minds and in our hearts. Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about “name of deceased” death. We are here to support you in your grieving process.; With sincere sympathy, |
With thoughts of peace and courage for you, We send you thoughts of peace and courage. Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow. “Name of Deceased” will remain in our hearts forever. We pray the love of God enfolds you during your journey through grief.
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss…our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. With love and hugs, We will miss “name of deceased”. We share comfort in knowing “name of deceased” is no longer suffering. We send thoughts of sympathy and support to you as you begin your journey without “name of deceased”. Name of deceased” brought so many gifts to our life. We will never forget him/her! May your heart and soul find peace and comfort. Peace, Prayers and Blessings, |
Sympathy Quotes
May the blessings of love be upon you, May its peace abide with you, May its essence illuminate your heart, Now and forever more.
-Sufi Blessing
In the night of death, hope sees a star, and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.
-Robert Ingersoll
A human life is a story told by God.
-Hans Christian Andersen
While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil.
-John Taylor
Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.
-Emily Dickinson
He kept at true good humor’s mark
The social flow of pleasure’s tide:
He never made a brow look dark,
Nor caused a tear, but when he died.
-Thomas Love Peacock
With what a deep devotedness of woe
I wept thy absence – o’er and o’er again
Thinking of thee, still thee, till thought grew pain,
And memory, like a drop that, night and day,
Falls cold and ceaseless, wore my heart away!
-Thomas Moore
Words and Phrases to Avoid in a Sympathy Card
While writing a sympathy card, avoid some of the commonly used sentences which would make your card sound flippant and immature.
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I know how you feel. It’s for the best. Time heals all wounds. He is in a better place now. I hope you will feel better soon. |
It was his time to go. Tomorrow will be a better day. This too shall pass. He won’t suffer anymore. Sending happy thoughts your way. |
Sympathy Card for an Uncle
Who to Address?
If you are writing to your uncle on the loss of his spouse or child then address the card to him as you usually would. If the deceased one is your uncle then address the card to his spouse, your cousin or someone elder from the same family.
What to Write?
If you intend yours to be a detailed card then write about some memory that you have had of him. You can include that how well he influenced you in certain aspects of your life and how you will always remember him for that.
Sympathy Card for a Jew
Who to Address?
Address the card to your acquaintance, senior family member or the family i general.
What to Write?
Unlike Catholic mourning where sympathy cards, letters or flower baskets are sent to express your condolences, in Jews mourning the ritual of Shiva (special grieving for the deceased) is also observed.
You can send a donation in the name of the family accompanied by fruit or food basket or platter, in case they are going to sit Shiva (mourning).
You can include the following Jewish proverbs:
- After this journey through the dark, you’ll find the path once again where light still shines. I believe in you.
- Sympathy doesn’t provide food, but it makes hunger more endurable.
Sympathy Card for a Pet
Who to Address?
Address the card to the owner of the pet. You can write something like; “In loving memory of Dobberman”.
What to Write?
Write what a great pet your friend had. In case of pet sympathy cards, you can experiment with something sweet, adorable, silly or funny. You can include; “Would miss Dobberman’s paws or his awful tongue”. You can also include a pet loss poem in your card from here.
Sympathy Card Examples
Sample Sympathy Card Message #1
Dear Jane,
May the God who makes prayer out of our speechless grief be present to you today.
Regards,
John
Sample Sympathy Card Message #2
My Beloved Peter,
I want so much to help you and be there for you. Yet I know nothing can fix this heartache. Please know that you are not alone. You are continually in my thoughts and prayers. I want to help in any way I can.
Yours Truly,
Alice
