Dear godfather
What you showed me will stay with me for a lifetime.
Do you have any questions?
Ask a personal question
The bestatter.ch website answers all your questions about funerals and funeral planning.
Expressing Condolences
The term “condolences” refers to all forms of expressions of sympathy and compassion following a person’s death. Showing compassion is an expression of empathy. Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes is the first step toward finding the right words. This is challenging, because everyone grieves in their own way. What brings comfort to one person may be distressing to another. Ultimately, we cannot know how someone else feels.
Find the right funeral director
The Swiss funeral portal.
How do I wish my condolences?
In the event of a bereavement, social skills and philanthropy are elementary. It does not matter whether a death occurred suddenly or was foreseeable. Bereaved families need the support of friends and acquaintances in this very difficult and unusual situation. This is the only way to process the loss.
If you are informed of a death by SMS, you can also react directly to this message by SMS and express your concern. After that, a visit or phone contact is appropriate so that the grieving can tell. This helps those affected to understand what has happened.
Writing a letter is also a very nice way to respond. In this context, phrases such as “time heals all wounds” or the like should be avoided as far as possible. A sincere “I am very sorry” or “My sincere condolences” is appropriate. Also, the sincere offer of support is a very nice sign. Often, condolence cards are also read again and again by the bereaved and are also later, after the initial period of mourning, signs of compassion and therefore do good.
How do I formulate a condolence?
The content of a letter of condolence is usually structured as follows:
- Salutation
- Introductory words (…that you have learned of the person’s death and are deeply saddened).
- Condolence (expression of sympathy in the narrower sense)
- Personal reference to the situation and to the deceased person (…how you experienced the person and what relation you have to it)
- Offer support (…only sincere support!)
- Convey confidence (….after the time of mourning, the memory remains)
- Greeting formula
- Finally, a quote or appropriate saying, if a saying is not already printed on the sympathy card
Basically, you do not have to follow the outline described above. However, most condolence letters and expressions of sympathy are structured according to the above list. Depending on how well you knew the deceased person, the personal connection may be a little longer or a little shorter.
In many cases, it is the case that one did not know the deceased person at all. Then you condole because you know the bereaved personally (e.g. work colleagues, friends, acquaintances). In such a case, in no case should you pretend and pretend that you knew the deceased person. This is immediately noticeable and embarrassing at best.