“I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m here if you need anything.” Simple, honest words often mean the most.

2. “At least they lived a long life.”

No amount of time makes losing someone easier, even though age can play a role in acceptance. It can be painful to assume that their longevity somehow eases the d3ath. As if they should be more “thankful” than devastated, emphasising that grief has no end date could make the bereaved feel bad for experiencing pain.