It's common to feel at a loss for words when someone you know has experienced the loss of a loved one. It can be hard to craft words of condolence that express your thoughts. These example condolence messages will help you express how you feel and bring comfort to those in need.

Talking to family members who have lost someone is extremely difficult. You may well be in mourning as well and so finding the words to try and comfort them at such a harrowing time for both of you is incredibly hard. If I could find a way to take away your pain, I would move heaven and earth to do so. That is my greatest wish at this difficult time. Meet Mr X. Found in his apartment months after his death, Mr X has no relatives that can be traced. He is the longest-serving resident of the mortuary, having been there for almost a year while the search for his elusive family continues. The staff talk to him like an old friend, but Mr X is disintegrating and a decision has to be made soon. Joanne Levy writes of death, grief, and friendship through the eyes of the delightful Evie Walman as she negotiates both the rather small and very big stuff in her life. A heartfelt glimpse into Jewish family and mourning rituals written with empathy and, of course, humor.” — Lisa Brown, bestselling author/illustrator ofThe Phantom TwinandThe Airport Book SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS : What working with the dead taught me about life” is a non fiction memoir of a behind the scenes look at working life in an NHS hospital mortuary. Written by Linda Watson-Brown and is based on the real life experiences of Kate Marshall, as she recalls various encounters with both the living and the dead, during her employment across a full calendar year.I thought this was an amazing book, written from a very kind and loving perspective. I actually finished it several weeks ago and was so overcome by the stories and the author’s observations that I needed to think about my review. So Sorry for Your Lossis a powerful and indispensable book that is unlike any book on grief that I’ve previously found. Gachman shares her own moving story while offering advice that is both clear and forgiving. The world is full of books that tell you what not to say to someone grieving; I love that Gachman stresses that (with only a few exceptions) anything is better than silence. This is a book suffused with humor and grace, and one that I will keep close at hand to help guide me when I need to comfort others—and myself." Kate explains in the book how she and the team she works with handle some of the things we don’t see when we visit our loved ones after they have died. There is no awful gory detail, Kate is very sensitive, matter of fact and I think truthful about what happens behind the scenes. So Sorry for Your Lossis a powerful and indispensable book that is unlike any book on grief that I’ve previously found. Gachman shares her own moving story while offering advice that is both clear and forgiving. The world is full of books that tell you what not to say to someone grieving; I love that Gachman stresses that (with only a few exceptions) anything is better than silence. This is a book suffused with humor and grace, and one that I will keep close at hand to help guide me when I need to comfort others—and myself."— Will Schwalbe, New York Times bestselling author of THE END OF YOUR LIFE BOOK CLUB

Meet Mr X Found in his apartment months after his death, Mr X has no relatives that can be traced. He is the longest-serving resident of the mortuary, having been there for almost a year while the search for his elusive family continues. The staff talk to him like an old friend, but Mr X is disintegrating and a decision has to be made soon.The book really is an emotional read and I identified with some of the different families, through the different loved ones they lost and how they each decided how to handle that loss and the family customs, traditions and rituals they chose to do. Candid, illuminating, and necessarily playful, Dina Gachman’s So Sorry for Your Loss balances the author’s grief over the loss of her mother and sister with smart reflections, while lacing insights from experts throughout. Gachman not only welcomes readers into her own loss journey, but offers meaningful recognition, genuine solace, valuable resources, and even comfort recipes. So Sorry for Your Loss is a meditation on loss that reminds us how to go on living.”

There are wonderful moments of levity, but ultimately the book is a poignant examination of the loss of a loved one during the time between adolescence and adulthood. Written with Foley’s keen ear for family dynamics, this is definitely a strong choice.”Each time I read through my highlighted passages, I think, “Yes—that’s exactly right.” Maybe because my own mother’s death is still fresh, and Kate put many of my emotions into words. Here are some that I found especially meaningful. I think it was the sub title of the book or byline of the book “What working with the dead taught me about life” is what really caught my attention and made me want to learn more about the book. Through confident, expressive narration, Foley...provides an affirming conclusion to this delicately told coming-of-age story.”— Horn Book Magazine There are no words at a time like this. All I can say is how sorry I am you have lost your beloved child. Which is perfectly understandable. It’s the natural response to a horrible situation and shows you are offering some comfort or empathy with that person.