50 messages of condolence for someone who is grieving

Offering condolences is hard because no words ever seem enough. And it's true: they aren't. But the point is not to fix the pain — it's to keep it company. These phrases can be a starting point; make them your own.

Short and sincere

• “I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm here for whatever you need.”
• “My heart goes out to you. Sending you the biggest hug.”
• “I don't have the words. I just want you to know I'm with you.”
• “We love you dearly and we're right beside you through this.”

When you knew the person

• “Your mother was a remarkable woman. I will always remember her smile.”
• “I was lucky enough to work with him for many years. He taught me so much just by being who he was.”
• “I'll always remember the summers at her house. Thank you for sharing her with us.”

For a book of condolence

• “May the love of everyone who cared for him bring you comfort.”
• “Her memory will live on in each of us.”
• “Rest in peace. It was an honour to have known you.”

What really matters

More than the words, it's the gesture: ringing, turning up, writing a few days later when everyone else has gone back to their routine. The best condolence is the one that doesn't vanish within a week.

If the family has created an online memorial, leaving a few words there carries something extra: they are kept for ever, and the family can read them again whenever they need them most.