Finding the Right Words For a Letter of Condolence

Grieving family members get great comfort from receiving heartfelt letters and notes acknowledging their loss. But often finding those sincere and perfect words can be a struggle. The best condolence or sympathy letters are like conversations you would have to the family, only in written form. The letters are usually handwritten, under one page in length and sent promptly. The condolence letters can be addressed to the person in the family you feel the closest to, or to the family as a whole. A well structured condolence letter usually has seven parts. 1. Acknowledge the Loss. As a starting point you need to acknowledge the loss. Examples could be: I was sorry to hear of your recent bereavement. I was very upset to hear of your loss. I wanted to write and tell you how sorry I am for your loss. I was so sorry to hear about the tragic circumstances surrounding xx