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Expressing Sorrow for Another's Loss
Expressing your sorrow to a close friend who has suffered a loss is hard enough. When the grieving party isn’t one of your nearest and dearest but an acquaintance, putting pen to paper can seem especially daunting. But sending a note of this kind doesn’t have to be an arduous undertaking. “The purpose of writing a condolence note is to connect with someone and to acknowledge the loss. You want to let the person know that she is not alone,” says Florence Isaacs, author of Just a Note to Say…: The Perfect Words for Every Occasion (Crown, $18, www.amazon.com). “For expected deaths, it’s fine to write something like ‘I was so sorry to hear about your father’s passing. Just want you to know I am thinking of you. I send my sincere condolences, Katherine.’ There is no better thing to say than ‘I’m thinking of you.’”