It is unfortunate when a family member, friend, acquaintance or coworker loses someone close to them.
As a caring individual, you want to share your sympathy and let them know that you are thinking about them in this trying time. You want to send a sympathy card, but how soon is too soon, and how late is too late? Take a look below for some items to consider:
How well did you know this person?
If the person is close to you, send it as soon as you can. Your sympathy card will be seen as thoughtful, even if it arrives on the early side.
On the other hand, if you are not particularly close to the individual, you may want to hold off a few days before sending a sympathy card. A card from an acquaintance may not be welcome in the first few days of grieving. To be safe, do not send the card before the funeral or service.
Sending a card by mail takes time
If you are sending a sympathy card cross country or internationally, send the card on the sooner side. If you don’t, the card may arrive past the time. However, sending a sympathy card late is better than not sending one at all.