Words of Condolence to Write in a Letter for a Grandfather

Betty,

I was very sorry to learn of your grandfather's passing. Know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

How wonderful that you got to spend so many years with your grandfather and that he was able to be such a big part of your life. I'm sure that he has given you great advice and encouragement over the years. I lost my own grandfather two years ago and I still miss his wisdom and inspiration.

Your grandfather was one of those rare people that never knew a stranger. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and was often the life of any get-together. His stories and sense of humor drew people to him everywhere he went. And yet, he never sought acclaim or attention, instead focusing on those around him more than himself. That is probably why he was so well-liked.

Your grandfather modeled the characteristics that we try to instill in our children today: honesty, hard work, dedication, and loyalty. He was a great role model and mentor to all who knew him, and I feel fortunate to be one of those. We all have wonderful memories of this great man, and I know those memories will sustain you in the coming days. Though he is no longer with us, his influence will still be felt in the family that lives on.

May you find peace and comfort in the days ahead.

With Love and Sympathy,

Rhoda McPherson

1. Keep your letter short but sincere
2. Try to mention a fond or funny memory of the deceased if you have one
3. Respect religious beliefs. Some people may believe in reincarnation rather than heaven, or could be atheists. Whatever their belief, they still deserve sympathy.
4. Sign with a full name (first and surname). This is good etiquette as there may be other relatives or friends with the same first name as you.
5. Do not offer financial help
6. Don’t mention money the deceased may have owed you. This can be dealt with after the grieving period has passed.
7. Do offer to help in other ways such as offering to cook a nice meal for the surviving family members, or helping with chores

Letters of sympathy and condolences are personal, and so you should first mention the name of the person to whom you are writing. Depending on how close you are with the bereaved or deceased some of the ways you can do that are:

Dear _______,
My Dear Friend _______,
Dearest _______,
Dear Mrs. _______,
Dear Mr. _______,
Dear _______ Family,
Dear Family _______,

* Condolence Letter Writing Tip: If you knew the deceased, but not the family, address the letter to the closest family member, such as the spouse or eldest child. Also, if you did not know the deceased, address the card or letter to your friend, co-worker, or acquaintance.

Selecting the right words to include in your own letter can be a daunting task. Just write from the heart so that your letter reflects your sincerity.

In our letter we began with:

I was very sorry to learn of your grandfather's passing. Know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Other appropriate ways to begin a letter include:

My deepest condolences to you and your family. I was saddened to learn of _______'s passing. You are in my thoughts during this time.

We are so sorry for your loss. Know that you have our deepest sympathy and that we are praying for you.

I want to express my deepest condolences on the loss of your grandfather. May your special memories sustain you and provide comfort during this difficult time.

Please accept our most sincere sympathies. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during your time of grief.

Mention a Wonderful Memory of the Deceased

When writing words of condolence letters for a grandfather, feel free to mention a special memory you have of the deceased. This can often help survivors deal with the pain of their loss. Here are some suggestions on how to do this:

• Your grandfather was a special person who was always willing to lend a hand. I was one of the many benefactors of his kindness and will never forget his generosity or his smiling face.
• I remember your grandfather as a strong man, willing to work hard to provide for his family, and still able to take out time for play. He certainly knew how to balance his life for work and relaxation, a lesson we could all learn today.
• I never got to meet your grandfather, but I remember well the stories you told me about him. It was easy to tell that he had a big impact on the person you became and that you admired him greatly. I know his death is a great loss for you, but I hope you find comfort in the assurance that he lives on through you and the rest of his family.
• Your grandfather was such a wonderful neighbor and friend to me. Though I never had the chance to meet you, I feel like I know you from the stories he would tell. He was so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. With such a fine man as a mentor, I'm sure you have turned out to be a wonderful legacy of his life.
• I was so sorry to learn of the passing of your grandfather. I remember spending time with him when we were kids. He always spent at least a week with your family every summer, and he kept us kids occupied. I'm sure your parents looked forward to his visits so that he could tame two wild young boys.

Some appropriate ways to offer help are:

• I'll prepare several meals that you can just put in the freezer. They will just require heating up whenever you need them for a quick meal.
• I'll be going shopping in the next few days and I can pick up some things you need.
• Since I lost _______ I attend regular support meetings. I have one on _______. I'd really like it if you could join me.
• I'll give you a call in a couple of days and we can set a time to go for a walk.
• I'll take care of your pets and water your plants until you get back from spending time with your family.

Close with an Appropriate Sentiment

We closed our letter with:

With Love and Sympathy,

These last words can provide comfort and sympathy to the recipient. Other phrases you can use as a substitute for your own words of condolence letters for a grandfather include:

• With our deep and heartfelt condolences.
• Know that we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
• May these flowers express what our words fail to do.
• With blessings, love and prayers.
• With hope that our words offer some comfort.

Makes sure you avoid these common spelling mistakes if substituting your own words for any in our sample words of condolence letters for a neighbor.

• Condolense
• Condolesens
• Simpathy
• Simpathie
• Preyers
• Blesings
• Simpothy
• Simpothie

If you choose to send a text or email message rather than a letter of condolence for a grandfather, you can create a message similar to what you would say in a letter. It is appropriate to make it shorter, especially for a text or social media message. Here are some examples that you can use.

I just heard about ______'s death. Please know you and your family are in my thoughts.

I heard from ______ that you lost your grandfather. I want to extend my sympathies to you and the family.

I just heard about the death of your grandfather and I want to offer my sincere condolences. He was a special person.

You can send one of these messages to provide immediate comfort and then send a traditional letter at a later time if you feel it is appropriate.

If you are sending flowers or another gift to the grandson or granddaughter, you may wonder what to put on a card to offer sympathy. Here are a few ideas that you can use for your own condolence cards for someone's grandfather:

• May these flowers serve as an expression of my sympathy for you and your family.
• Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this time.
• May these flowers provide some measure of comfort during this time.
• You are in our thoughts during this time.
• May God be with you as you grieve your loss.

"When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. When you die, you rejoice, and the world cries." Buddhist saying

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill

"I can't think of a more wonderful thanksgiving for the life I have had that that everyone should be jolly at my funeral." Admiral Lord Mountbatten

"Say not in grief he is no more – but live in thankfulness that he was." Hebrew Proverb