Nothing is more heart-breaking than saying goodbye to a loved one, but the support shown through sympathy notes and condolences can help you through difficult times. While it may be hard to write sympathy thank you notes while you are mourning, it is crucial to appreciate acts of kindness and support. If you aren’t ready, a family member or close friend can write the cards on your behalf.
In this guide, I’ll share sample thank you notes after the funeral to get you started.
Related: 36 Creative Ways to Write a Thank You Note for Money
Generic Thank You Notes
Example 1:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for the cheese-tray and casserole you made for Matt’s funeral reception. Not only were they flavorsome and delicious, but they also helped make the gathering special.
I will forever be indebted to your help and your kindness.
With much love,
Frieda
Example 2:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for the elegant bouquet of pink flowers that you sent. It was so considerate you to think of us in this challenging time. We also loved that you traveled a long way to attend the service.
Yours Truly,
Maria
Example 3:
Dear friends and coworkers,
Thank you for your support and love during this difficult time. It’s heart-warming to know that you are all by my side as I face my brother’s loss. I am grateful to work with some wonderful people.
With sincere thanks,
Susan
Example 4:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
I appreciate everything you have done after the loss of my mother. I thank you from the bottom of heart and hope to see you soon.
With Love,
Joe
Example 5:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
It has always been such a privilege to have you as a neighbor. I don’t know how I would have coped with the loss of my wonderful son if it weren’t for your massive support. Gratitude never seems enough in times like this.
Much love,
Maria
Example 6
Dear (Name of Addressee)
It was so thoughtful of you to support me during my time of sadness. Your sympathy note and kind words of condolence offer great comfort to me as I grieve my mother’s death. Thank you for your love and support.
Yours truly,
Denise
Example 7:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
I want to express my gratitude for the beautiful flowers you’ve sent. I am grateful for your kindness as I am going through this difficult time.
With love,
Amanda
Example 6:
Sorry, it’s taken me a while to send this. I wanted to thank you for the thoughtful gift you sent me when little Kevin passed away. It’s been difficult, and I’m only just beginning to come out of the sudden shock and trauma. Your gift helps to remember the happy times that we spent with our son. I’m getting stronger every day and would love to get together for a coffee soon.
Much love,
Lizzy
Example 8:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for remembering and sharing the good things you have learned from our dearest deceased. We are grateful for your support and good feelings.
Yours sincerely,
Thomas
Example 9:
Dear (Name of Addressed)
Thank you for the lovely sympathy card you sent. I appreciate your support and kind thoughts. (Name), always mentioned that you were the best work colleague. You helped him cope during the difficult times of her illness, and she genuinely appreciated your frequent visits to the hospital. You’ve shown us that we’re not alone in our grief.
Love,
Linda
Example 10:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for the elegant flowers you sent us. It was so considerate of you to remember us in this difficult time. It has been such comfort while we were saying goodbye to our wonderful Pa. I know it’s been a tough week, but with your kind support, we are getting through it. I hope that we are able meet soon.
Love,
Molly
Example 11:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for your letter of condolence and for sharing memories of my mum. She lived a long, happy life and I will miss her dearly. Your wonderful memories of her life and kind words helped lift my spirits.
Love,
Brenda
Example 12:
Dear (Name of Address)
Thank you for your sympathy note and flowers. We are deeply touched by your condolence message and are thankful for your support at this difficult time.
Love,
Tommy
Example 13:
Dear (Name of Address)
Thank you for your sympathy card during our time of loss. Your words of condolence are of great comfort to us as we try to come to terms with our son’s death.
With sincere thanks,
The Walker Family
Example 14:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for your kindness in helping me with the food and guests at the service. I am so grateful for your help in my time of need. You’re a great friend.
Much love,
Iggy
Example 15:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Your support during this hard time is much appreciated.
Much love,
Lana
Example 16:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for the lovely white flowers you sent. They touched us deeply, as did your words of condolence. We are so thankful to have your help and support as we grieve (name) untimely death.
With love,
Josh
Example 17:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for understanding the way we felt at the moment and for sharing our pain. Your support and words of condolences are much appreciated.
Love,
Josephine
Example 18:
Dear (Name of Address)
Our family would like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest gratitude for the thoughtfulness presented to us and the support we have been given during this time of bereavement. Thank you for your generosity.
Much love,
John
Example 19:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
The kind, generosity of friends like you has been helpful to us during this difficult time. Thank you so much for your loving support.
With love,
Diana
Example 20:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
There are no words to convey my sincere gratitude for the sympathy you have extended toward my family during this loss. Your kindness and support deeply touched us.
Yours truly,
Emily
Example 21:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
I would like to give our thanks for the lovely cards and flowers. We appreciate your kindness and generosity in this difficult time.
With love,
Martin
Example 22:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for organizing the food and attending the service. Your support has been a real blessing to us during this difficult time. Our family loved the chicken wings and casserole you sent.
Thanks again,
The Walker family
Example 23
Dear (Name of Addressee)
I was feeling overwhelmed when (Name) passed away. The meatballs and salad you brought over were great! I survived on them for a couple of days and may not have eaten otherwise. Thanks for being there in this difficult time.
Your friend,
Lisa
Thank you notes for church
Example 24:
Dear [Name of church],
The meal after the funeral ceremony at the church was wonderful. Thank you for hosting our family and serving all the food. Food is such great comfort in times like this. We were able to share the memories of [Name of deceased] during the Luncheon.
Sincerely,
The Walker family
Example 25:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for providing the pizza and the casseroles for my family during the weekend of my father’s passing. With so many friends visiting from out of state, the food was a blessing. We were all glad to be to have a meal together at home without figuring out what to make. Also, thank you for coming to the service.
Example 26:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
My family is thankful for the food provided when my wife passed away. It’s been a very difficult time for us. The children were happy to have some of their favorite comfort foods over the weekend. Your love and support means the world.
Thanks again,
Lindsey
Example 27:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
Thank you for your kindness and generosity. The casseroles you brought for the meal after the funeral were delicious. The chicken wings and lasagna casseroles were also big hits. Thank you for sharing this comfort food.
With love,
Leslie
Thank You Notes for Team
Example 28:
Dear (Team, coworkers)
Thank you for sending flowers to the memorial yesterday. The arrangement was wonderful, and I felt deeply touched that my colleagues remembered me during this difficult time. I will see you as I return to work after settling Father’s affairs.
Kind Regards,
[John]
Example 29:
Dear [coworker’s name]
Thank you for coming to my mum’s funeral. Her untimely death was tough and unexpected. Your support and generosity were appreciated.
Best Regards,
Karen
Example 30:
Dear (Coworkers)
I have the best coworkers! Thank you for the sympathy card and flowers sent to the church for my grandpa’s funeral. They helped me through this difficult time while I was out of the office. I also appreciate all the shifts that were covered for me while I was out.
Thanks again,
Paul
Thank You Note for Funeral Director
Funeral directors are helpful when it comes to making arrangements for a loved one. I applaud you for expressing gratitude toward your funeral director during this difficult time. Find sample thank-you notes below to help you get started.
When my father-in-law died unexpectedly, we relied on the funeral director. He helped us with the cremation process, death certificates, transportation of the deceased, and the obituary with the local newspaper. This is only a small part of what funeral directors can do.
Let’s take a look at some examples.
Example 31:
Dear staff of [funeral home],
Thank you for helping us with the funeral arrangements from beginning to end. We were not ready for my father’s death. We appreciate all the love and support of the entire staff. Having fresh meals delivered during calling hours was a fantastic idea. Our family was thankful to be able to step away to grab a bite while taking a break.
Thanks again,
The Walker family
Example 32:
Dear (funeral director),
Thank you for ensuring that mother’s funeral went smoothly. I wasn’t sure all that would entail when she asked me to be her front-man upon her passing. I am obliged to your help with obtaining the death certificates and the obituary for the local newspaper.
Sincerely,
Matt
Example 33:
Dear (Name of Addressee)
I want to thank your staff for the time spent with our family. Explaining the process helped us make decisions and feel in control of a very difficult situation. We also appreciate the arrangements made for [name of deceased] to be taken to the church. Having the funeral at the church my aunt attended for over 40 years was important to the family. Your suggestion to make a collage with photos worked out great as friends and family enjoyed viewing it during the calling hours.
Warm regards,
Tony
Example 34:
Dear ( Funeral Director’s Name)
Thank you for everything you did for [deceased name’s] funeral. The hall was the perfect size for the funeral, and the musicians did a great job playing the hymns. Everything went as smoothly as possible, given the situation. I appreciate that you arranged the pallbearers as that would’ve been too stressful for me to deal with at the time.
Thanks again,
Paul
Example 35:
Dear (Funeral Director),
We are indebted to the kindness of all of the staff during the calling hours and funeral for my mother. She was a kind lady, and I am grateful that everything went smoothly. Our family appreciated the snacks provided for the calling hours too.
Regards,
Allen
Example 36:
Dear (Funeral Director’s Name)
We felt grateful to have you as our funeral director. Thank you for all the arrangements you made to ensure that everything went smoothly. We will also recommend you to friends and family when they need a funeral director.
Regards,
Sam
Example 37:
Dear (Funeral Director’s Name)
Thank you for being a fantastic funeral director! I wasn’t aware of how much effort and detail went into funeral arrangements until my dad passed. Your knowledge and expertise helped make the funeral process feel not so overwhelming.
Thanks again,
Matt
Pallbearer Thank You Notes
Example 38
Dear (Name of Pallbearer),
Thank you for serving as the pallbearer at Bob’s funeral. He requested to have you as a pallbearer many times before passing. I appreciate your service and generosity in this difficult time.
Regards,
Kevin
Example 39:
Dear (Name of Pallbearer),
Grandpa will be missed. We are indebted that you were able to serve as a pallbearer. Grandpa told us how much he enjoyed your visits over the years. Thank you for your service.
Regards,
Josh
Example 40:
Dear (Name of Pallbearer),
Thank you for being a last-minute pallbearer at my aunt’s funeral. Her youngest daughter is doing better now, but the grief and trauma were overwhelming for her. We are thankful that you were able to stand in and help out with the service.
Regards,
Eleanor
Example 41:
Dear (Name of Pallbearer),
My brother enjoyed spending time with you. Before he passed, he expressed his wish to have you be the pallbearer when the time came. Thank you for honoring his final request.
Regards,
Paul
Example 42:
Dear (Name of Pallbearer),
Thank you for coming to Mr. Green’s funeral. We are grateful that you were willing to be a pallbearer. Mr. Green would have appreciated it too. We are thankful you were there to share his memories with us and to celebrate his life.
Regards,
Greg
Thank you notes for organizers and musicians
Example 43:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Thank you for playing the piano at my grandma’s funeral. She would have enjoyed the hymns you played. The music played before the funeral was peaceful and lifted our spirits in this difficult time. We appreciate you contributing in this way.
Thanks again,
Bob
Example 44:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
You are a fantastic organist. Our family was grateful that the church has you as staff for funerals. Uncle Robert loved organ music his whole life. We are thankful that the funeral home had an organist to help fulfill his final wishes.
Regards,
Scott
Example 45:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Attending Albert’s funeral was heart-breaking. Hearing the beautiful violin music lifted our spirits. Thank you for being there and playing calming music.
Regards,
Julia
Example 46:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Your performance of ‘I Will Remember You’ was terrific. I understand why Grandpa asked you to sing a solo! Your ability to make it through without breaking-down was impressive. I know how much you loved him and will miss the time you spent with him.
With love,
Clara
Example 47:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Thank you for coordinating all of the hymns for Rob’s funeral. The family felt very overwhelmed by the music, and everyone appreciated your arrangement. Also, thank you for singing the three solo pieces that Helen asked for.
Warm Regards,
Julie
Thank You for Condolences
Example 48:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Your words of condolence were so kind and very much appreciated in these difficult times. You are such a thoughtful person, and it meant so much to have you with us.
Yours Truly,
Chad
Example 49:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Thank you so much for the condolences. We truly appreciated the kind words of comfort. You’re a great friend.
With love,
Elijah
Example 50:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Thank you for the memories you shared during the funeral. They truly helped lift our spirits and highlighted what a wonderful person [name] was. We were so glad to have you attend the service with us.
With love,
Emilia
Example 51:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
Our family is grateful to you for the special funeral flowers that you sent. The arrangement was one of our favorites and helped brighten our day.
Warmly,
Angel
Example 52:
Dear (Name of Addressee),
I am grateful for your support and generosity. Thank you for being there for [name of deceased] and our family. Your presence made a difference in these tough times.
Take Care,
Samuel
Funeral Thank You Wording
Expressing your gratitude for a sympathy card can feel quite overwhelming. We’re here to help you through the process and break down thank-you note wording to send to your supportive loved ones.
First, know that thank you cards are sent to those who helped you through hard times. Your loved ones may have watched over your children and pets, brought meals, delivered flowers, donated to the funeral expenses, sent sympathy-cards, or attended the service. If you’re writing thank-you notes, plan to include the following:
• Name of Addressee: Most letters begin with “Dear (name),” and this works fine for funeral thank-you cards.
• Thank you note: Acknowledge the help or previously extended condolences. Make sure to use words to express gratitude, such as “thank-you.”
• Concluding sentiment: Write anything from a follow up to recounting how their efforts helped you, or a simple note such as, “You are a good friend.”
• Sign off: Sign offs may include any of these: “Love always,” “All my love,” “Sincerely,” “Thank you again,” “Best wishes,” ‘Come again,” “Take care,” “Warmly,” or “Yours truly.” End the letter with your handwritten name.
When should you sent thank you notes?
There is no formal time-frame for sending thank you notes, but within two-three weeks of the funeral is appropriate.
Who should receive sympathy thank you notes?
You don’t need to send an official thank you note to everyone who attended the funeral, memorial service, or sent you a sympathy note. Instead, a thank you note, or acknowledgment needs to be sent to anyone who has done something special, including:
People who sent flowers
You can send funeral thank you notes for money to attendees who made a memorial donation and helped the family financially. You don’t need to mention the amount they donated. The charity often notifies you of contributions made in your loved one’s memory.
Helpful friends
Send thank-you notes to friends that helped in tangible ways. For instance, brought food, offered transportation, done babysitting, and assisted with the meals.
The Pallbearers
Musicians and Organists who performed at the funeral
Clergy presiding at the service
(They also receive an honorarium.)
Lastly, send cards to friends who went out of their way to do something noteworthy. For example, sending you a photo of the deceased or sharing a touching memory.
How late is too late to write a thank you note?
The funeral of your loved one was several months ago, and you forgot to send thank you notes. Is it too late?
The answer is, ‘It’s never too late.’ However, you will need to acknowledge the delay in sending the card. For example, preface your note with something like this: “Apologies for the tardiness, but I wanted to thank you for your support…” Or, “I am sorry for the delay in sending this, but your gift of flowers for Jane’s funeral service was wonderful…’
You can choose a set of cards that are not formal thank you notes. They are usually blank inside and allow you space to write. The recipients of these cards will value getting the thank-you note, even though the memorial service was quite some time ago.
How do you remember whom to acknowledge?
It can be helpful to keep a simple notepad and pen during the funeral or memorial service.
Keep it handy, and note-down each call and visit; do not rely on your memory. This list will be invaluable when it’s time to send your sympathy thank you notes. Moreover, you can also assign a close friend or family member to keep this record.
Be sure to record first and last names alongside the telephone numbers. It can be a great comfort to see the support you were offered.
What do you say in a thank-you note?
All you need to write is a simple sentence or a paragraph. You can write your message in a preprinted sympathy card, and include personal sentiments with the printed note. Or simply purchase blank cards.
Addressing your acknowledgments
Thank you notes can be sent to people at their address. It is appropriate to include a person’s name on a note and sending it to an unknown address – a place where they don’t live. Unless it is addressed something like this: “Paul Smith, c/o Joe Anderson.”
What about the return address? If you’re a woman and your spouse has died, you are still “Mrs. Paul Smith.” It is perfect to use that title as your return address. “Julie Smith” is acceptable too, and so is “The Smith Family”, if you’re writing on behalf of your entire family.
Should you use a return address label that includes the name of the deceased? Although proper etiquette recommends a handwritten return address, using a label is a call only you can make
Further Reading: