Condolence Letter Templates and Guides

Let your words to demonstrate big, compassionate tears

Choose a topic to view condolence letter templates:

Announce bad news to employees Announce the death of a family member, or write the obituary Announce the death of a family member to other family members, close friends, and acquaintances Announce the death of an employee or an employee's relative Encourage an employee after a disappointment or a company setback Express regret on the defeat of legislation or the loss of an election Inform employees of another's illness Offer sympathy for a marriage separation or divorce Offer sympathy for loss or damage caused by a theft, vandalism, or natural disaster Offer sympathy for the death of a business associate Offer sympathy for the death of a business associate's family member Offer sympathy for the death of a child Offer sympathy for the death of a friend or relative Offer sympathy for the death of a person who has been ill Offer sympathy for the loss of a job Offer sympathy for the loss or death of a pet Offer sympathy in a case of serious or terminal illness Send a gift with a sympathy letter Thank someone for expressions of sympathy Write a get-well message regarding an employee's or business associate's family member who is suffering from illness or injury Write a get-well message to a child suffering from illness or injury Write a get-well message to a friend or relative suffering from an illness or injury Write a get-well message to an employee or business associate suffering from illness or injury

How to Write a Sympathy Letter

by WriteExpress Staff Writers
  1. Respectively describe your admiration
    Describe how much the deceased was respected and admired by you and others.
  2. Mention what good things you liked about the person
    Write about a few of the deceased person's strengths, achievements, and successes.
  3. Discuss a positive memory
    If appropriate, include a short personal story or anecdote involving your relationship with the deceased.
  4. Keep the letter balanced
    Strike a careful balance between the formal tone of a sympathy letter and its deeply personal nature.
  5. Keep your sympathy letter short—under one page in length
    Remember that a mourner is emotionally drained.
  6. Offer to help in some way
    If you can do so sincerely, include contact information such as your cell phone number and your email address.
  7. Even better, just help in some way without being asked
    Clean their house. Mow their lawn. Bring over cooked meals. Now is your chance to show true love and charity to the mourner and his or her family.
  8. Comfort the mourner with words of hope and faith
    If you have strong religious convictions, mention your belief that the deceased will find peace and happiness in a better world.
  9. Imagine yourself in their situation
    Put yourself in the mourner's place and imagine the kind of sympathy letter you would like to receive.

Sympathy Letter Articles

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