How to Send a Sympathy Card to Someone

Sending a sympathy card will let her know she is in your thoughts.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy. When someone you care for has a death in the family, show your concern and support during that person's time of mourning. The person may not want to accept people visiting at first. Send a sympathy card to let the person know you are thinking of his family during this difficult time. Send the sympathy card ideally within the first few weeks of the person's death.

Things You'll Need

• Sympathy card
• Recipient's address
• Stamp

Instructions

1. Obtain a sympathy card that expresses your condolences during your loved one's time of grief.

2. Write a condolence personally from you at the bottom on the last page of the card with phrases such as "My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family" or "I am very sorry to hear about [name of person]'s passing."

3. Sign the card with phrases such as "With our warmest sympathy" or "With loving thoughts." Place a comma after the phrase and write your first and last name directly underneath. If it is from you and your spouse, write both names such as "Don and Jill Smith." If it is from your family write "The Jones Family." If you do not know the person you are sending it to well, but you knew the person that passed, you can place a note under your name as to the relation such as "Tom's fraternity brother" or "Nancy's co-worker at American General."

4. Address the envelope handwritten in blue or black ink, with your return address in the top left-hand corner, the appropriate postage stamp on the right-hand corner and the person's address in the middle of the envelope. If it is to a family, such as a widow and her children, address it "Mrs. Jen Douglas and Family."

References

• Simple Sympathy: Sympathy Card Etiquette

Resources

• Emily Post: Bereavement Questions and Answers