If you're struggling with an opening, try something direct like "I'm so sorry your mother is gone…" and add something "We image0-18 will miss her. Make sure you include the name of the person who died or mention the specific incident that caused sorrow for the person.Be sincere and express your feelings of sympathy. You will find ideas from seasoned Hallmark writers for good, helpful and hopeful things to write in a sympathy card. In a New York Sun editorial, Francis E. Church wrote the response to Virginia that day. His message has endured for well more than a century.