Express your heartfelt sympathies. Some example messages would be, please know I am thinking of you during this painful time.I was sorry to hear of your recent bereavement. Listen, I apologize for calling you at home, but I've had some bad news. "Please accept my condolences on the death of your ____. " "I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your _____." Georg Herzog (1899-) Zu Mecklenburg.