When you experience a loss, people from all periods of your life will be there to help. Whether it’s old friends, family friends, or anybody else you didn’t quite expect, you’ll want to write them a Thank you note for their assistance. The same goes for those that you knew would be there, like friends that are still around, or other family members. But, it goes without saying, if you’ve never written a note like this before, it can be tough to put your words to paper.
Neptune Society is here to help you in your time of need by providing you with some tips on what to include in a sympathy thank you note, or funeral thank you card.
What To Include In A Sympathy Or Funeral Thank You Card
Writing a sympathy thank you note, or a funeral thank you card, may be easier than you think. The card and messaging doesn’t have to be long – it’s more ideal that it’s concise. Short and to the point is always more effective than long thank you notes. With all that you’re currently experiencing, the last thing you should need to worry about is writing the perfect thank you card for someone who’s assisted in the funeral of a loved one.
What’s more important is to make this note or card personal. There are a number of reasons you may want to thank someone for help at a funeral. Whether this person provided food for the guests, sent flowers, or was simply there for you, it’s best to personalize the message accordingly.
Not every card need to be personalized. Since most of the cards will be for simply attending the funeral or memorial serve, it’s fine to include similar phrases for each one. View some of the ideas below, and personalize where applicable.
Thank you for attending…
- (I, We) appreciate you attending (loved one’s) funeral.
- Thank you for taking the time to come to (loved one’s) funeral.
- It meant a lot to (us, me) to see you at (loved one’s) funeral
- Thank you for sharing the celebration of (loved one’s) life with (me, us).
Follow-up
- (I, we) appreciate the effort you took in traveling such a distance to attend the funeral.
- The stories and memories you shared about (loved one) were one-of-a-kind.
- Your presence and words were a comfort for (me, the family) in this time.
- Your stories about (loved one) were special to us.
- You lifted our spirits with your words about (loved one).
- It meant a lot to us to hear how (loved one) touched the lives of others.
- You meant so much to (loved one) and I can tell (he/she/they) meant a lot to you.
- Celebrating the life of (loved one) would not have been completed without you.
Closing line
- Your presence meant the world to (me/the family).
- Your support made a huge difference during this difficult time.
- Thank you for your words of support.
- Your kindness/support means more than words can possibly express.
- (I, the family) will always remember your kindness.
- You were a true friend to (loved one) and will always be an important part of the family.
Now that you’ve got a few ideas about what to write in your thank you note, you can choose the best way to express your gratitude in just a few lines. Remember, the people on your list for thank you notes are there for a reason. They supported you and your family during a tough time, and they care. Before you go, check out some more general tips on writing your thank you notes.
- Don’t Worry If Time Has Passed Since The Funeral: While it’s best to get your notes in the mail as soon as possible, people will totally understand if it takes a couple of months.
- Ask For Help If You Need It: After the funeral, there may be more people to thank than you initially thought. Don’t be afraid to ask friends or family members for help.
- Include Other Family Members In The Signature: If you’re sending a thank you note on behalf of the family, signing the card as “The family of (loved one)” allows the sender to express the gratitude of the whole family. If you’re the only one who’s been assisted, just sign your own name.
- Break Up Your List to Make it Manageable: Tackling the entire list at once can be overwhelming. Breaking the work up into manageable chunks or pieces can make it easier to get started, and get it done.
- Include Your Full Name And The Name Of Your Loved One In The Letter: Be sure to include your last name when thanking those who aren’t a close friend (for example, the office or workplace of your loved one). This is especially important if you’re a bit late on sending out your acknowledgements.
- Short but Meaningful is the Goal: Creating a simple 1-3 sentence thank you note is the main goal here, and you want to make sure it comes from the heart. Additionally, if you choose to print your notes as opposed to hand-writing them, make sure to include a bit of personalization with a brief note and a signature.
Writing A Sympathy Note Doesn’t Have To Be Hard
You’ve dealt with enough turmoil in the past couple of months if you’ve recently experienced the death of a loved one. This blog post is intended to assist those that are writing a sympathy note for attendance of a funeral and have never done it before. At Neptune Society, we aim to be as helpful as possible, in all aspects, when you experience the death of a loved one. We hope this blog post was of assistance to you in your time of need.
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The Neptune Society is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of affordable cremation services. Whether you have an immediate need or want to plan cremation services in advance, we are always available to assist you and your family.
Call 1-800-NEPTUNE (800-637-8863) today or contact us online to learn more.
