If someone you know has just died, you should visit the wake to show respect. If you are far away and cannot visit the service, you could send a letter of sympathy. There are several ways to send funeral messages to the family of the deceased. Send a short note with a token showing empathy.
Even if you are going to the memorial service, it is still appropriate to offer a letter to the bereaved. The content of your note will mainly depend on your relationship with the family and the deceased. It can be brief or long but should show sympathy, compassion and support.
It is good to remember that family members of the deceased may read letters and notes of sympathy sometime during the memorial service. So, it might be a good idea to keep your note short but not too curt. Point out how the deceased was special too you and how and why he or she will be missed.
If you are going to use a store bought card, write a short note in your own thoughts. The context of your letter should depict sorrow yet sound comforting to the family. This may be a difficult task to complete and it will help to remember the deceased when he was living.
You can begin a difficult letter by mentioning a memorable time you had with your dead friend or relative. Do not stress yourself about writing the wrong words or producing something too short or long. Concentrate on what you feel and what you would like to express. End the latter with an uplifting sentence.
Be sure to proofread and edit your letter before sending it to the family of the departed. Funeral messages are usually written in cards, as personal letters, via email, or sent with flowers. Make certain that the blooms in your bouquet and the card are appropriate for memorial services.
