Words of Condolence Letter for a Granddad

Dear Sandra and Pete,

I received your message informing me that your granddad had died and wanted to let you know how very sad I am. I know how close the two of you were to him and how much you’ll miss him. He was a jovial, generous man, and I am sorry to hear of his passing. I’m sure your grandma is most heartbroken at this time, so please pass on my condolences to her and to your parents as well.

I’ll always remember the warm welcome your granddad always gave anyone entering his house. Those days spent around their kitchen table having a cup of tea or a glass of wine are special moments in my life, and in the lives of many others. I don’t know of a more popular couple than your grandparents were. Poor Dorothy, I do wish I could be there to help console her. I know that she’s in good hands with you and your family, and that you’ll all support each other. Your granddad taught you all well.

I’m sorry that I won’t be able to make the funeral, but rest assured I’ll be by to visit the first chance I get. Natalie sends her love. We will call you in a few days to see how you’re getting on. We miss you all very much, and again, are so sorry for your loss. May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

With Love,

Barry

1. Keep your letter short but thoughtful.
2. Always mention one of your favorite memories of the deceased if you have one.
3. Remember to respect religious beliefs. Everyone deserves sympathy, regardless of their beliefs.
4. Sign with your full name (first and surname). This is good etiquette and will prevent any confusion regarding relatives or friends with the same first name as you.
5. Do not make offers of financial help.
6. Don’t mention money that the deceased may have owed to you or anyone else. Financial matters can be dealt with following the grieving period.
7. Do offer practical help such as offering to provide meals or help out with household chores.

Letters of sympathy and condolences are very personal, so the language of your greeting should reflect that. When you address your intended recipient, be sure that your greeting always includes the name of the person you are writing your letter to. The specific nature of your relationship with the bereaved will help you to decide the exact phrasing that should be used. Here are some sample suggestions for your greeting:

Dear ________,
My Dear Friend _________,
My Dearest __________,
Dear Mrs. __________,
Dear Ms. __________,
Dear Mr. __________,
Dear __________ Family,
Dearest __________ Family,

It is often difficult to decide how to start your condolence letter for a grandad. Usually the most challenging part is in choosing the first words of your condolence letter. If you are having difficulty choosing your words, try simply writing from your heart. That way your letter will genuinely reflect both your feelings of sympathy and the nature of your relationship with the bereaved.

In our letter we began with:

I received your message informing me that your granddad had died and wanted to let you know how very sad I am. I know how close the two of you were to him and how much you’ll miss him. He was a jovial, generous man, and I am sorry to hear of his passing. I’m sure your grandma is most heartbroken at this time, so please pass on my condolences to her and to your parents as well.

Other appropriate opening sentiments include:

We are devastated to hear the news about your grandad. Please know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of our entire family.

Words can never express how sorry we are to hear about the passing of your grandad. We will keep you and your family in my prayers during this difficult time.

I just heard about your loss. Please know that you have my deepest condolences.

I want to extend to you my deepest condolences. I am praying for you during this difficult time.

Our hearts are breaking for your loss. May your beautiful memories sustain and bring comfort to you during this difficult season. Please know you have our prayers.

It can be hard to find the right words to express your sorrow when writing words of condolence letters for a grandad. As our sample letter demonstrates, a personal touch is important when crafting your letter. In fact, mentioning a fond memory of the deceased can bring comfort to the bereaved. In your letter, try to share your favorite memory or story about the deceased. Here are some samples to give you ideas for your own letter:

• _______ was truly a kind soul. He had an extraordinarily strong spirit that was always able to overcome all odds. I would recognize his contagious laugh anywhere. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
• There was truly no one like your grandad. ______ was truly one of the nicest men I ever met. Even throughout his illness, he managed to charm all of the nurses and to make deep friendships with all of the other patients. Even though I never had the chance to meet you, I feel like I know you from all of his colorful stories about his family. I want to know that you are in my prayers, and that I wish you the best.
• I am shocked and saddened to hear of ______’s passing. I will miss him deeply. As my co-worker, he always inspired me to keep trying even after failure. As my friend, he taught me how to treat other people with respect. I’m grateful to have known him and to have called him a true friend.
• I just want to let you know how grateful I have been for your family, and especially your grandad, ______. As a neighbor, he was a true blessing. He was always offering to help me with my yard, and often he would just take care of what needed to be done without even asking. As a widow, I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. My heart goes out to your family for this great loss.
• I was saddened to learn about the passing of your grandad. Though I never met him, I know that you were very close and that he meant so much to you. Please know that you and your entire family are in my prayers.

Some appropriate ways to offer help include:

• We have some meals prepared for you. You can store them in your freezer and just thaw them as you need them.
• Our care team would like to offer help with your household chores for a time. I'll call you and we can plan a time for the team to come over.
• I’m going shopping at ______on ______. I can get anything you need and drop it off on my way home.
• I'll call you in a couple of days to see if you would like to go for a walk next weekend, at a time that suits you.

We closed our sample letter with:

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

The closing statement is a very important of any condolence letter for a granddad. Remember, the closing statement will be the final impression your letter leaves with the bereaved. It is also your final opportunity within the letter to offer your comfort and condolences. Other appropriate phrases to use in a words of condolence letter for a granddad include the following:

• With prayers for strength to face these challenging days.
• With hope it helps you to know we are thinking of you.
• With warm and heartfelt sympathy.
• Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
• Please know we are praying for you and your daily in this time of grief.
• With our deepest and heartfelt condolences for you and your family.
• Please know you have our condolences.

Be sure to avoid these common spelling mistakes if substituting any of your own words for those in our sample words of condolence letters for a grandad. You will want to check your letter for any of the following common spelling mistakes:

• Condolense
• Condolesens
• Simpathy
• Simpothy
• Simpothie
• Preyers

It is now considered to be acceptable to send a text, email, or social media condolence message instead of the more traditional letter. Your message should include all of the same kinds of sentiments as what would be found in a traditional letter. However, the format of a text or social media message will typically restrict you to a certain length of message. Therefore, you will need to make your message shorter when sending a condolence message for a grandad via text or social media. Here are some sample ideas that you can use for your message:

I can’t express in words how sorry I am for your loss. Please know that you are in my thoughts.

I’m so sorry for your loss. May your happiest memories of your grandad surround you in this difficult time.

I just heard about the passing of dear ______. You have my deepest condolences.

We heard the sad news about _____’s passing. Please know that you and your entire family are in our thoughts and prayers.

I just heard about your loss. Please accept my warmest sympathies; you are in my prayers.

You can send one of these short messages immediately to provide comfort and sympathy to the bereaved. Later, as you feel it is appropriate, you can then send a more traditional words of condolence letter for a grandad.

You may want to send flowers or another type of condolence gift to the family of the deceased. If so, you can also include a condolence card for a grandad along with your flowers or gift. If you find yourself at a loss for what to write in the card, remember that a simple phrase offering condolences is typically best. You can use any of the following words of sympathy:

• May these flowers serve as a token of my sympathy for you.
• May these flowers express what words never will.
• May this gift be a reminder of my thoughts and prayers for you.
• You are in my prayers.
• We are thinking of you in this difficult time.
• May these flowers remind you just how much we care.
• Please know that we are always here for you.
• With prayers and love for your entire family.
• Please know that you have our condolences.

“He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.” Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“Good-night! good-night! as we so oft have said. Beneath this roof at midnight, in the days. That are no more, and shall no more return. Thou hast but taken up thy lamp and gone to bed; I stay a little longer, as one stays. To cover up the embers that still burn.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.” Emily Dickinson