How to Leave an Obituary Grief Statement
You just read a newspaper obituary for someone you knew. Here is how to write a note of condolence to his or her surviving loved ones.
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Instructions
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How to Leave an Obituary Grief Statement
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Express sympathy. When someone's loved one dies, surviving family members need and appreciate support. The etiquette experts at The Emily Post Institute relate this advice: "Only one rule should guide you in writing letters of condolence: Say what you truly feel."
If you are struggling with what to write, "I'm sorry for your loss" is both appropriate and all that is needed.
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Consider memories. Did you know the deceased well? A few sentences describing a specific memory of when you learned a moral lesson from the deceased, admired his or her ethics or shared a laugh will be an encouragement to the surviving family members.
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Apply the Golden Rule. There are some things that you should not write in a condolence card. Thinking about how you would like to be treated will help you to determine what are inappropriate phrases. Ask yourself: "What would I like to hear if I was bereaved?" Do not write "It will be OK." Clearly it is not OK, so try not to write anything similar to that statement.
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Mail a card quickly. Those who are grieving tend to remember that you sent a card, not what you actually wrote. Try to send a sympathy card as soon as possible after reading the obituary.
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