Tips for Writing Personalized Sympathy Cards and Letters
BY MELANIE WALTERS

When someone has recently lost someone who they cared about, words of sympathy can be a ray of light that can help the bereaved to cope with their loss when life seems bleak and discouraging. They look forward to the mail from those who care during troubled times as a source of great comfort. If you are finding it difficult to express the right words of sympathy to show that you care, then you can go to www.ObituariesHelp.org where you can find free examples of sympathy sayings and words to use in your own sympathy card or letter.

It is worth the time and effort to find the right words of sympathy and www.ObituariesHelp.org can help you to write a sympathy card or letter. People tend to send sympathy cards and other greetings with only the pre-printed words and fail to write their own message. If you write your personal words on a sympathy card that you have purchased, it shows the bereaved that they mean something to you, and that you want to help them at this difficult time in their lives. It also shows that you also cared for the deceased and your words of comfort may be cherished for many years.

Writing Words of Sympathy Tips

The main thing to remember when writing your words of sympathy is to be honest about your feelings. You need to write your sympathy message as if you were talking to your friend personally and not use elaborate and unnatural language or fancy words. Your friend will be more appreciative of what you have to say if you speak straight from your heart rather than using an artificial message that required a great deal of effort on your part. You can find many sample sympathy words online for letters and cards that help you to write your message.

When you send a card with a pre-printed message, you can write your message on a separate piece of stationery that you fold inside the card or on the blank area inside the card. Any letters you write should be done so by hand. To make your message as personal as possible, do not use a computer to print your message or a sympathy card with a pre-printed signature.

It is also important that your sympathy message be sent out no later than about two weeks after the death. This means that it will arrive soon after the funeral when the bereaved will be in the greatest need of words of sympathy. If you fail to get your message out within two weeks, you can send it at any time as even a delayed message is certain to be appreciated.

What to Say in Your Message

Certain basic elements should be included in a sympathy letter and by using these elements every time you need to write a sympathy letter, it should be easier to find the right words.

First, you should be sincere in your expression of sympathy for the loss of your loved one. When you mention that person, if you have a friendly relationship, then refrain from being formal and refer to them by their nickname or some other casual name.

Next, you should write something about the departed, such as a shared experience, endearing qualities or character strengths, to show to your friend that you will miss the deceased as well.

Finally, make sure you close with something personal that shows the reader that you are thinking of them. Use words such as “Thinking of You” or “Wishing You Peace” rather than something generic like “Sincerely”. You can go to www.ObituariesHelp.org to find examples of how to close a sympathy letter.

Although writing words of sympathy can be difficult, if you take the time to write how you genuinely feel you can rest assured that they will be greatly appreciated. In this way, you are showing them that you care, and that you will miss their family member as well. Using the guidelines and tips in this article, you will be capable to write words of sympathy that will be able to comfort your family and friends during their period of mourning.