What to write in a sympathy card (with AI prompts and examples)

Start with who it's for and one real detail

Help me write a short sympathy card message.
It's for: [name], my [friend/coworker/neighbor/cousin].
They lost: [their mother / husband / dog, name if I know it].
How well I knew the person who died: [well / met a few times / never met].
One memory or detail I could mention: [e.g. she always waved from the garden; he told the best fishing stories] or "none".
Ask me up to 3 short questions if something important is missing. Then wait.

If you didn't know the person who died, that's fine. Write about the person you're comforting instead: what you've heard about how close they were, or simply that you're thinking of them.

Get three short options to choose from

Write 3 sympathy card messages from what I told you, each 2-4 sentences:
1. Simple and warm
2. Including my memory
3. Including a specific offer of help
Plain words, no clichés like "everything happens for a reason" or "they're in a better place", no religious language unless I ask for it, and nothing I didn't tell you.

Pick the one that sounds closest to how you'd say it out loud, then change a few words so it's yours. Handwrite it if you can.

Examples you can adapt

• Friend: "I'm so sorry about your mom. I'll always remember how she made everyone feel welcome at your place. I'm thinking of you and I'm here, today and in the months ahead."
• Coworker: "I was so sorry to hear about your father. Please take all the time you need; we've got things covered here. Thinking of you and your family."
• Neighbor you didn't know well: "We're so sorry for your loss. Please let us know if we can bring a meal or help with the yard this month."
• Loss of a pet: "I'm so sorry about Biscuit. He was such a happy part of your days. Sending you a big hug."

Make the offer of help specific

"Let me know if you need anything" puts the work on the grieving person. A specific offer is easier to accept:

Suggest 5 specific, practical offers of help I could write in a sympathy card for someone who [has young kids / lives alone / is handling the funeral], that I could realistically do in the next 2 weeks. One short sentence each.

Only offer what you'll actually do, and follow through. A text a few weeks later ("Thinking of you today") often means more than the card, because that's when the casseroles stop.

Check the tone

Read my sympathy message as the person receiving it. Flag anything that might sting, minimize the loss, compare it with my own experiences, or sound like a greeting card. Suggest a gentler word for each, keeping it short.
Message: [paste]

Things to skip: explaining the loss ("at least they're not suffering"), your own story taking center stage, and advice. When in doubt, "I'm so sorry" and their loved one's name are enough.

Write thank-you notes for sympathy cards

If you're the one who's grieving, AI can lift a heavy job: thanking people for flowers, meals and donations.

Help me write short thank-you notes after my [relationship]'s funeral. For each person below, write 1-2 warm sentences that mention what they did. Keep them simple; it's fine if they sound similar.
- [name]: [sent flowers / brought dinner / donated to X / spoke at the service]

There's no strict deadline for these. If you're also writing remarks for the service, see how to write a eulogy with AI in your own words.