Keep the letter as brief and as short as possible. Letters of condolence are mainly to comfort the bereaved.Say one or two positive things about the deceased, but the rest should be directed at the recipient. I am writing to express my condolences. When my father died the kindest thing anyone said to me was, "There is no time limit to grief. A handwritten condolence letter is a personal way of acknowledging someone's grief and offering comfort in a heartfelt way. Oldfashioned? Please accept my sincerest condolences for the passing of your beloved father. Losing a father is one of life's greatest sorrows, and my heart breaks for you during this time of grief. Please accept my sincerest condolences for the passing of your beloved father. When Shawn died, I got a lot of condolence letters.