Sympathy Messages

These are Sympathy message examples to write in a card, send in a sympathy note, or say when someone has died.  These will help you in one of the toughest situations where it can be difficult to know what to say.  Also check out the tips for writing your sympathy card message.
  1. My deepest sympathies for the loss of your _________. Please accept my condolences.
  2. Please forgive me for my own loss of words to express my condolences for your loss.  Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with in the coming days and weeks.
  3. I am deeply saddened to hear that __________ passed.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
  4. If you ever need anyone to talk to, know that I am willing to listen.  I am sorry for your loss.
  5. I am at a loss of words of what to say.  Please accept my condolences anyway and know that I am thinking of you.
  6. I am sorry for your loss.  Please know that I will be checking on you frequently over the coming weeks to make sure you are o.k. and see if I can help you in any way.
  7. I am praying for peace, comfort, and strength in this difficult time for you and your family.
  8. What strength we lose when we lose someone close is gained in the experience of loss we must endure.
  9. Let God give you strength when you need it.  Let Him give you peace and restoration with his love for you.
  10. My heart goes out to you in this difficult time.  Please accept my condolences and know that I will be praying for you.
  11. No one knows when a great tragedy might strike any of us. Only God knows that. I think that’s the way God wants it so that we can lean on each other and on Him.  I do want you to know that I am here for you and you can expect me to call you and check in on you.
  12. There’s no way I can even try to imagine what you are going through. All I can do is pray and depend on the Lord to renew your spirits and provide you with what you need.
  13. I never had the opportunity to meet ____ but I know you talked highly of him/her, and I know your loss is great.  My condolences to you and your family.
  14. It’s easy to question ‘why’ in a situation like this, and it’s easy to become angry in a situation like this.  The problem is, you don’t always get to know why.  That’s where faith is required of us.  Our belief in His plan for our lives is all we have.
  15. The question of whether we should be happy for someone when they die comes down to what our beliefs are about what happens to you when you die.  I know that your strong beliefs can be of comfort to you in a difficult time.
  16. This is just another example that proves that the world is not fair.  In this imperfect world we live in, we must trust God who is perfect.
  17. Your loss is unfathomable, and I can only offer my sympathy.  I am deeply sorry for your loss.
  18. Feelings of anger, confusion, denial, grief, and loss are all normal when going through a loss.  Please don’t hesitate to give me a call to talk about how you are feeling any time.
  19. People say, ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ but in reality, it’s more like a theft.  It feels more like you have been robbed when something or someone so precious to you has been taken. Know that any feelings you have are justified, and people react in their own way.  I will be supportive of you no matter what.
  20. __________ was an amazing person who I admired because he/she was ________.  Know that he/she will be missed.
  21. Please allow me mow your lawn/bring you dinner/take care of your dog to help you out in this time of need.
  22. Even though I didn't know _________ very well, you talked about him/her and I know that you lost someone special.  Please accept my condolences.
  23. I was shocked to hear that __________ passed.  I will miss his/her (good quality).

Sympathy Message Keywords


Use these common words for your message.

Difficult, tough, challenging, rough, loss, fear, death, hope, thoughts, prayers, love, miss, care, hope, faith, spirit, life, lived, friend, help, memory, remember, warmly, amazing. grateful, need, support, help, friend, passing, peace, admired, touched

Tips for Sympathy Messages

  1. You can keep your messages brief, especially if you do not know the person well.
  2. Do not infer that you know how the person is feeling.  Many people react to loss in different ways and grieve at different rates.
  3. Use humor very wisely.  Only use humor if you know that it will be helpful.  Save the jokes for happy occasions.
  4. Offer your support in some specific way, such as an offer to babysit, mow the lawn, etc.
  5. Feeling awkward around the person who has suffered a loss is common, but being willing to listen and hang out with the person will make you both feel better.  A nicely written sympathy message is a great way to break the ice without having to say the right things perfectly on the spot.

What Not to Write in a Sympathy Card

Here are a few things that you should never write in a sympathy card unless you want to offend the person you are giving the card.
  1. "______ got what he deserved."  This is a ridiculous thing to write to someone if it is a sympathy card.  Only a total jerk would write something like that.
  2. "You owe me money." If the person who died owed you money and you now think that the surviving family should pay you back, there are better ways to get your money than writing about it in your sympathy card.  Wait a few weeks and write a letter explaining that the deceased owed you money, and that you would like to get your money back if possible.  Another way to think about it is that you gave your money to the survivors as a bereavement gift.
  3. "I guess it was just his time." This is cold and insensitive.  Only write this if you are God or the Grim Reaper.  You are not either, so it's not nice to rub it in after someone has already died.  If you are a psychic and you knew when his time would be ahead of time, then you should have given everyone a warning.
  4. "Time heals all wounds." If it's true, then don't be surprised if you get a wound from the bereaved when they inflict bodily harm on you.  Then you can see if time heals your wounds.
  5. "You'll be o.k." This is a stupid thing to write in a sympathy card, because it may not be true.  You really can't predict whether anyone will be o.k.
  6. "He had a good life."  While this may be true in your eyes, most people surviving a loss would like to have had more time with their loved one.  It's not time to put things in perspective in order to make the bereaved stop feeling sorry for their loss.