for a loss
handwritten sympathy cards,
written with a real pen.
Handwritten sympathy cards are a quiet way to tell someone you are thinking of them. You type what you want to say. A real pen writes it in ink on a card, and we post it.
Why handwriting matters at a death
It shows that someone sat down for them.
A message on a phone scrolls away. A card stays. It can sit on a shelf, and be picked up on a hard day, long after the flowers are gone. Ink on paper tells the family that you took time over it. You do not need clever words. For numbers on how people feel about handwritten mail, see our guide with its sources.
What to write
Short is kind. Use their name, and the name of the person who died.
I was so sorry to hear about your mother. I am thinking of you, and I am here if you would like company. Anna
Your father was kind to me when I was new at work, and I have not forgotten it. With love, Raj
I do not have the right words, but I wanted you to know I care. I will call next week, only if you want me to. Sam
More help with the words and the sign-off: how to sign a sympathy card. If you are the one who lost someone, see thank-you cards after a funeral.
When to send it
Within a few weeks if you can. Late is better than never.
Many people feel they have waited too long, and then send nothing. Send it anyway. A card in the second month can arrive when the visitors have gone.
In the designs gallery, pick the Sympathy occasion. Compare the handwriting styles too.
Sending to someone abroad
Written and posted from Bangalore.
We hand the card to the post within 3 business days of your order. Then it travels for about the time below. These are usual windows, not promises.
| United States | 8-15 days |
|---|---|
| UK | 7-14 days |
| Gulf | 6-12 days |
| Australia | 8-15 days |
| India | 3-7 days |
Other countries are on the shipping page.
When a pet dies
The loss is real, and a card says so. Vets send them too. See pet sympathy messages.
If you send aftercare cards
Funeral homes and hospices write to families for months. Read about funeral home aftercare cards and hospice bereavement messages, then see how businesses send cards.
Questions
About handwritten sympathy cards.
- Is it really handwritten?
- Yes. A machine holds a real pen and writes your words in ink on the card. It is not a printed font made to look like handwriting.
- Can it use my own handwriting?
- Yes. Upload a sample of your writing and we build a hand from it. Or choose one of our handwriting styles.
- Will it arrive before the funeral?
- Usually not. The card is written first, then posted, and the post takes days. A card that comes after the funeral still matters, often more, because the house is quiet by then.
- Can you send it straight to the family?
- Yes. Give us the address and we put the card in an envelope addressed to them. The address can be in another country.
Write to them today.
A few honest lines, in real ink, are enough.