Etiquette on Sending a Sympathy Card Months After Death

Sympathy for the loss of a loved one is never too late.

When a loved one passes away, friends and family gather in sympathy. Sending a sympathy card brings you in touch with another person's suffering. While official etiquette suggests sending a sympathy card as soon as possible, you can never send a card too late.

Function

Sympathy cards reach across the boundaries of grief to comfort.

Sympathy cards, sent soon or later, reach out to a grieving person. Friends and family can let the person they love know that their thoughts and/or prayers accompany him through this painful experience. If you cannot send a card until months later, rest assured that the purpose of your card will find its way to your friend or family member.

Considerations

Grief is a process that welcomes loved ones' prayers.

When words fail, sympathy cards serve several important and deeply personal functions. According to SimpleSympathy.com, sending messages of sympathy sensitively acknowledges a person's loss and creates a bond of support with the grieving person. Your sympathy lets your friend or family member know that you are on stand-by with no expectations. When or if you are needed, you are there.

Features

Before you send a sympathy card, follow some basic sympathy card etiquette. SimpleSympathy.com outlines important factors to include. Sign with a brief sentiment, such as "You are in my prayers" and sign your full name. If you are not close to the person, you may include an identifier, such as "Bob's daughter." Do not send money, which sends a message that money can ease grief. If you are in a position to do so, arrange to bring meals to the grieving person for a while. Write in blue or black ink on the envelope. Use a proper title to address the envelope, such as "Ms. Betty Smith." Include your return address. Address the envelope to the person closest to the deceased.

Benefits

In some ways, sending a sympathy card a few months after a death serves good purposes. According to MyThankYouSite.com, sending cards later can be sources of reassurance after the difficult first months have passed. If you send a sympathy card to acknowledge a birthday of the deceased, you send caring thoughts at a difficult time. Beyond those considerations, since grieving is a process, it is never too late to let someone you care about know that your thoughts and prayers are with them.

Misconceptions

If many months have passed since your friend or family member suffered a loss to death, do not assume it is too late to send a sympathy card. Even if you already sent a card closer to the death, you can send a card letting the person know that he is still on your mind--that you are there for him. Follow up with a personal visit, if circumstances allow.

References

• Thank You Cards & Notes: Sympathy Card Etiquette
• Simple Sympathy: Sympathy Card Etiquette