It may be hard to know what to say to someone who’s lost a loved one as influential as a grandpa or great-grandpa. However, you shouldn’t stress too much — expressing that you care and that you’re thinking of this person and their family is all that matters.
Sympathy Gift and Card Ideas for the Loss of a Grandpa
- Papyrus Sympathy Card (Wishes of Peace) ($6.50)
- Forever Remembered Sympathy Card ($4.79)
- Wine Country Gift Baskets Sympathy Gift Basket ($49.95)
- Benchmark Bouquets Pink Roses and White Lilies ($45.10)
- Cruelty-Free Bath and Body Gift Basket ($49.99)
- Willow Tree Angel Figurine ($29.94)
- Memorial Windchimes ($59.98)
- Memorial Garden Stone ($45.27)
- The Year of Magical Thinking Book on Grief ($11.71)
- Snack Gift Basket ($45.99)
- Fruit and Nut Gift Basket ($25.06)
- Self-Care Subscription Box ($39.99)
Jump ahead to these sections:
- What to Say to Someone Who Lost Their Grandpa Via Text
- What to Say to Someone Who Lost Their Grandpa Face-to-Face
- Words to Share on Social Media for Someone Who Lost a Grandpa
- What to Say via Email or Letter to Someone Who Lost Their Grandfather
Below, we’ve provided plenty of message ideas to express sympathy to someone who’s lost a grandpa or a great-grandpa. We have provided a variety of messages for different scenarios, including whether you’re texting this person, seeing them face-to-face, talking to them on social media, or emailing them.
Tip: If someone in your life is coping with the death of a grandfather, they might be facing a number of complex tasks. From writing an obituary to understanding grief, our post-loss checklist can help with the process.
What to Say to Someone Who Lost Their Grandpa Via Text
It may not be possible to reach out to a loved one in person or any other way. Texting has become an important and meaningful way of communicating, and it can be the perfect way to express your sympathy without intruding.
1. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I am sending tons of love your way.”
There is more than one way to say “I’m sorry for your loss,” and you shouldn’t feel limited to this verbiage. Telling your loved one that you’re sending love, too, can take a bit of emphasis off of the “sorry” angle as well.
2. “I heard about your grandpa. This must be so hard for you.”
Saying this message will open up the conversation to your loved one to talk about how they are feeling. If you don’t get a response right away, be sure to be patient and sensitive to this. Being there for they shouldn’t be exclusive or have a time limit.
3. “I want you to know I’m here for you. Your great-grandpa was such a special guy, I’m glad I met him.”
You can never go wrong telling someone you’re there for them as well as sharing your appreciation for someone or something else they love. You may also be interested in these other sympathy messages.
4. “Your grandpa was a force of nature. I can’t imagine what this feels like to not have him here anymore. I love you, and I’m here for you.”
This message doesn’t really beg for a response. When people are hurting, they may not want to respond right away. It’s important to be gentle with them and not take any reaction personally.
5. “You’re so important to me. I hate to see you going through this, but I’m here for whatever you need.”
This message doesn’t have to be limited to your loved one losing a grandpa or great-grandpa and can be meaningful at just about any time. Of course, saying things like this mean you’ll have to deliver on your promises, so don’t say anything you don’t mean.
6. “I’ll be praying for your family and I wish you my deepest condolences.”
You may not know what to say to someone you care for but don’t know very well. But, fear not, we have a collection of condolences you can reference for these types of situations.
7. “I loved your grandpa, too. I can only hope we can all be reunited someday.”
Share with your loved one if you’re hurting, too, but also don’t be afraid to spin it in a positive way.
What to Say to Someone Who Lost Their Grandpa Face-to-Face
Seeing someone face-to-face who has recently lost a relative can be difficult. You may be fearful of saying the wrong thing, but you shouldn’t worry too much. Keep the following in mind and the interaction should go smoothly.
8. “I’m always available if you need help with anything.”
You may not know what to say to express your sympathy directly. Lending a helping hand always works.
9. “How are you doing? I’m so sorry to hear what happened.”
You should ask someone how they’re doing only if you fully intend to hear them out. Of course, you can offer to talk or grab a coffee at a later time.
10. “I heard about your grandpa, that’s so tough.”
It’s OK if you’re vague in your well-wishes, especially if the person you’re speaking to is just an acquaintance. Let them lead the conversation.
11. “I’ve been thinking of you and your family, I heard what happened.”
This message is also somewhat vague and takes the pressure off of you. If your friend, acquaintance, or loved one doesn’t want to speak much about their grandpa, they won’t feel the need to.
12. “Your great-grandpa was so lovely, I’ll miss seeing him around.”
Sharing your feelings about a person’s loved one will likely make them feel good, even if they’re sad about their loss.
13. “When I lost my grandpa I was crushed. But even if it sounds silly, I feel like he’s here with me every day and it helps a lot. I pray you feel the same about yours.”
It’s not out of the question to feel like our loved ones never really leave us. It may help to remind your friend that their presence can be felt through memories, reminders, and physical mementos.
14. “If you’re not ready to talk about your grandpa or any of it, I am definitely available for when you do. Just say the word and we can grab a drink!”
Some people may respond better to an offer to talk another time. In fact, your loved one will likely appreciate the distraction and the company later on.
Words to Share on Social Media for Someone Who Lost a Grandpa
Social media can be a tricky area to share condolences. However, it’s increasingly common for people to announce deaths and commemorate deaths in this way. There is an art to posting comments on social media in order to express sympathy for a loss. Here are some ideas.
15. “You’re so strong, I love you!”
You can share this message when a loved one is going through just about anything. You may also wish to keep your message vague even if it’s public — this is a good option.
16. “Your grandpa would be so proud of you!”
If you knew your loved one’s grandpa personally, sharing that he would be proud of them would likely mean a lot.
17. “I’ll be thinking of you and am sending my love.”
This is a good example of a way to show you care without using the term “sorry.” “Sorry” sometimes rubs people the wrong way when they’re going through hard times, so you may wish to refrain from saying so.
18. “I’m praying for you and your family to stay strong during this difficult time.”
Sending prayers means the world to many people, especially when you extend your sentiment to the rest of his or her family.
19. “I hope you and your family heal in your great-grandpa’s absence. I love you all.”
After any loss, the healing period is crucial, as is expressing your care for your loved ones.
20. “Your grandpa was the best, I’m so happy I met him!”
Focus on the positives in your message. If you can, share a special memory between all of you to help cheer your loved one up.
21. “Your grandpa was a fighter. I’m so sad to hear he’s gone, but I pray you can tap into his strength.”
This message is fairly personal, yet it may feel like the perfect thing to say. Reminding people of their strength when they’re feeling weak is incredibly important.
What to Say via Email or Letter to Someone Who Lost Their Grandfather
Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to be there for those who need us even when they need us the most.
An email or handwritten letter may be the perfect way to express your sympathy to someone who’s lost a grandfather.
22. “I wish I could be there for you in person, but this will have to do. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”
Express to your loved one that you wish you could be there even if it’s painful to acknowledge the distance.
23. “I just wanted to write to you and tell you that I love you. I’m sorry to hear about your grandpa.”
Emphasize how much you care about your loved one if it makes you uncomfortable to focus on their loss. Let them take the lead and decide whether they want to discuss it.
24. “I hope this message finds you on a good day, even in spite of what’s happening in the world. I love you so much.”
This message is a bit vague but can cover a lot, especially if you don’t write letters to your loved one often.
25. “I’m writing to you to express my deepest sympathies. I will be praying for you and your family, but I pray you know it will get better.”
Try to gently help your friend or loved one see that there’s a bright side to just about every loss, if even not immediately. It’s a hard fact that death is a part of life, and we have all likely experienced it to some extent.
Words Are Powerful
Stressing too much about what to say can sometimes leave you stuck. Often, it’s better to say the imperfect thing than nothing at all. We hope you found the above suggestions helpful for expressing sympathy to someone who’s lost a grandpa or a great-grandpa.