The Art of Condolence: What to Write, What to Say, What to Do at a Time of Loss

“This beautifully written guide offers specific and wise advice for confronting another’s anguish, as well as a deep understanding of grief.” —Judy Tatelbaum, author of The Courage to Grieve

Time and again we stumble for words and actions that will reflect our feelings of compassion and our desire to be of comfort during a time of grief and loss. Based on the authors' extensive research, their workshops, and their professional experience, and filled with personal stories and anecdotes, this heartfelt, practical, and accessible guide to sympathy and etiquette covers the three most common areas of concern: What can I write? What can I say? and What can I do?

The authors address such issues as:

• Special circumstances—sudden death, suicide, the death of a parent or child
• How to compose a letter of condolence—including a variety of sample letters
• How to be of service—from ideas for thoughtful gifts, to assisting with business affairs and funeral arrangements, to suggested ways of helping in the aftermath
• When more help is needed—the benefits of grief therapy and support groups, with a listing of recommended reading and other resources

Leonard M. Zunin, M.D., is senior psychiatric consultant for the California Department of Mental Health. An authority on attachment and loss and a distinguished researcher and lecturer, he is the bestselling author of Contact: The First Four Minutes. He lives in Napa, California with his wife, Hilary Stanton Zunin.

Hilary Stanton Zunin teaches English and creative writing at Napa High School and is an expert on the effect of grief on school-aged children. She and her husband, Leonard Zunin, live in Napa, California. They coauthored The Art of Condolence.