If it is necessary for you to send a letter of sympathy for a grieving family, consider sending commercially sold funeral cards as a convenient option. You can offer the note with a flower bouquet or by itself. If you are remotely located in another country, it is also acceptable to send a message through email.
You can get notes at your local stores or you can pen your own. A simple letter becomes more special when it is handwritten. If your handwriting is illegible, consider buying a commercially printed version. You just need to sign it and mail it right away to get to the bereaved family at an appropriate time.
In most cultures, it is expected that grieving friends and relatives send letters of sympathy. They can be sent if you attend the memorial service or not. It is essential to do so if you cannot go to the deceased person's interment. It is acceptable to mail the note after or prior to the burial.
In response to your note of sympathy, the family of the deceased is also expected to send thank you notes to those who were at the service and to people who send letters of sympathy. A family member closest to the dead person usually writes and sends them. Expect to receive one in the mail a week or two after the burial.
If you are sending your condolence message with flowers, make sure that it gets to the bereaved family before the actual burial. There are appropriate blossoms that are specifically for interments. You can choose from half a dozen types of species and have them delivered to the funeral home with a short note.
Ready-made funeral cards can be found at bookstores and online. Read the content first before buying one to make sure that the message is in line with what you want to say. You can certainly add a short handwritten note in it to make it more personal.
