How To Write A Condolence Card

In this post we’ll be advising on what to write in a condolence or sympathy card. If you’re looking for ideas on what to put in a funeral memorial card then we have a selection of appropriate verses and thank you messages which you can browse. 

It’s already a hard time when somebody passes away, and it can be difficult to find words to express your grief and sympathy. Firstly, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to overthink it, people receiving condolence cards will be grieving and appreciate the effort you’ve gone to in order to show your support. 

This being said, we’ve put together some suggestions and tips to help you write an effective and thoughtful sympathy card. 

The Greeting

The greeting is fairly straight forward but we’ve included it here because sometimes it is forgotten in a sympathy card. You know how to greet somebody based on how close you are with them. Simply putting their name, or “Dear..” followed by their name, is perfectly appropriate. 

The Main Content

This part can be more difficult; It’s tricky to find a balance between expressing your condolences, memories, and own grief, without overburdening the recipient of the card. We would advise that you avoid writing pages worth of information. Whilst it can be nice to share a story and thoughts, for the person receiving the card it’s much more digestible if you’re able to keep your message somewhat short and sweet. 

So, what do you write about in a condolence card? It’s good to start it off directly expressing your sympathy regarding the person who has passed. After that there are a few different routes you can take:

1. A Memory: Sharing a memory that you have of the person that passed away is a lovely personal touch. It can be a funny story, something you achieved together, or an example where you’ve witnessed the person who passed doing something amicable. Where possible, it’s even better if you can share a memory that involves yourself, the receiver of the card, and the deceased.

2. A Poem: There are dozens of good poems to use in a sympathy card, a quick Google search or look around Pinterest will offer you plenty of ideas. If you’re creatively gifted it can be even more touching to write your own poem to express your feelings - it doesn’t need to have the quality of a Shakespearean sonnet, in this case it truly is the thought that counts.

3. A Verse/Prayer: If you and the receiver of the card are religious then a short verse or prayer can be greatly comforting for those grieving. We would recommend choosing a verse that is more uplifting and looks at celebrating and remembering the life lost rather than one that could be considered more upsetting. And, whilst we do have a selection of longer verses for our memorial cards, for a condolences card we’d recommend choosing a verse of short to medium length. 

The Sign Off

Now the bulk of the content is done it’s simply time to choose a sign-off. Again you’ll know best what is appropriate, depending on your relationship with the recipient of the card. In case you’re struggling here are a few suggestions:

• With Love…

• Sincerely…

• Truly…

• All my Love…

• With Sympathy… 

With any luck, you now have a better idea of what to put in your sympathy card. We hope this article has helped you with what can already be a very difficult time for everyone involved.

If you’re looking for a funeral memorial card then you can browse our selection by clicking here.

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