How to Write Sympathy Letters and Notes: 40 Ready-to-Use Letters and Notes

by Dianna Booher

Are you saddened but unsure about how best to express you deep feelings in the face of sorrow or tragedy? In sympathy situations, friends and family have the greatest need to hear from you. Don’t leave them wondering about your lack of concern.

When you can’t find the right words to express comfort, make the sympathy letter writing process a little easier in this stressful situation with our professionally written package of sympathy letters and notes.

You’ll find sample sympathy letters for both personal and business situations:

Personal Sympathy and Business Sympathy Letters

Death of a child

Death of a parent

Death of a spouse

Death of other relatives

Miscarriage

Death of pet

Personal failures

Disaster—loss of home

Disaster—loss of business

Business failure

Financial ruin

Loss of job—friend

Loss of job—coworker

Get well soon

Terminal illness—friend

Terminal illness—acquaintance

Wedding—cancelled

Divorce—to parents of those getting divorce

Divorce—to friend or relative getting divorce

Criminal conviction

Crime victim

How to Use This Sympathy Letter and Notes Package

You have two choices. Either …

1. Download the PDF package and select the sample sympathy letter you need. Then copy and paste it into Microsoft Word or any other word processor. Send it out.

2. Read samples to “get the flavor” of what the sympathy letter or note should say. Then “pick and choose” sentences you like to use in composing your own sympathy letter or note.

Total Number of Letters: 40
Total Number of Situations/Topics: 24

If you need a sympathy letter or note to show someone you care and you can’t find exactly the right words, let us help with this professionally written package that offers many choices to help you express your thoughts.

Sympathy Letters and Notes
Written by Dianna Booher
Award-winning author of 44 books
published by Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books, Random House/Ballantine, McGraw-Hill, Wiley, Warner, and Thomas Nelson

50 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 31, 2012

About the author

Dianna Booher, MA, CSP, CPAE, is CEO of Booher Research Institute, Inc., a communication consulting and coaching firm.. She works with organizations to help them communicate clearly and with individuals to increase their influence through a strong personal presence--and sometimes with a published book!

She's the author of 49 books (translated into 62 foreign-language editions) and has published with Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, Warner, Penguin Random House, McGraw-Hill, and Berrett-Koehler. Her latest books include:

-Faster, Fewer, Better Emails: Manager the Volume, Reduce the Stress, Love the Results

- Communicate Like a Leader: Connect Strategically to Coach, Inspire, and Get Things Done

- What More Can I Say?: Why Communication Fails and What to Do About It

- Creating Personal Presence:
Look, Talk, Think, and Act Like a Leader

- Communicate with Confidence:
How to Say it Right the First Time and Every Time
(Revised and Expanded Edition 2011)

- The Voice of Authority:
10 Communication Strategies Every Leader Needs to Know

- Booher’s Rules of Business Grammar:
101 Fast and Easy Ways to Correct the Most Common Errors

- Speak with Confidence:
Powerful Presentations That Inform, Inspire, and Persuade

- E-Writing: 21st-Century Tools for Effective Communication

- From Contact to Contract:
496 Proven Sales Tips to Generate More Leads, Close More Deals, Exceed Your Goals, and Make More Money

- Your Signature Work:
Creating Excellence and Influencing Others at Work

Dianna has been interviewed by Good Morning America, USA Today, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, FOX, CNN, CNBC, National Public Radio, Dr. Laura Radio Show, Washington Post, New York Newsday, Bloomberg, Boardroom Reports, Investor’s Business Daily, Industry Week, Success, and Entrepreneur, among other national radio, TV, and newspapers.

Her work has also won its share of recognition. Several titles have been major book club selections, and others have won national industry awards:
-American Library Association: Best Young -Adult Non-Fiction of the Year
-Executive Soundview Summaries: Best --Business Book of the Decade
--Axiom Award Silver Medal (2018)
--Richtopia's Top 200 Most Influential Authors in the World (2017, 2018)
-New York Film Festival—Cindy Award (nominee) (Corporate Training Division)
-Newbridge Executive Book Club—Main Selection
-Macmillan Executive Book Club Selection
-Fortune Book Club Selection
-Writers Digest Book Club Selection
-Business Week Book Club
-Book-of-the-Month Club (alternate selection)
-Money Book Club