Email - Condolences

[gaposton]

I need to send out an email to inform every one here at work of the passing of a co-workers family member. I have never had to do this.

My question is, any suggestions on how I should write this, normally our HR rep does this and she is out on vacation. Please help

[raindance]

You could say something along the lines of "Colleagues, I've been asked to let you know that X's relative died at the weekend (or whenever).  We're writing formally to X to express the company's condolences."  That should do the trick.  It informs everyone appropriately and gives people an opportunity to send their own condolences to the bereaved person.  

Best wishes,

Raindance

[dettu]

Depending on where you are, you might not want to say "died." Some people just can't stand to see that word. Use whatever your local euphemism is--"passed away," etc. If your organization is going to send flowers, mention that--I always tell my group if we've sent flowers on such an occasion, because otherwise people come around asking if they need to contribute money for this.

[juspeachy]

You might include any funeral arrangements in the e-mail, also.  

Sometimes, families will ask that in lieu of flowers that people make donations to their favorite charity, so that might be included in the e-mail, if known.

JusPeachy

[dedlered]

You could write

"It is with great sadness to inform you that so and so, wife of so and so, passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2006.

Visitation-Wednesday, June 21, 2006 6:00 p.m. – 9 p.m.

               - Thursday, June 22, 2006 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.



Funeral Home

123 West Main Street
Anytown, USA





Funeral Service – Thursday, June 22, 2006 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.



Interment will be in the name of cemetary



Memorial Donations in Memory of so and so may be made to:



MDA
123 any street



Cards and notes of sympathy may be sent to.



The so and so family
c/o place of employment


We extend our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers to the so and so  family


Laura
Peer Moderator

[officeguru]

We use the general format that Peachy suggested here at work...

We don't have a set person to send out such messages; it's one of those - someone within the department will send the notice out to the division, leadership, etc to make everyone aware.

And we also add... 'Please forward this information to anyone we may have missed on distribution'.