What can I say to a friend who's Father had recently passed away, that hasn't already been said?

[UserJoe9]

I have a friend who announced on facebook that her father passed away. People have already written "my condolences" and "my thoughts are with you."

I want to say something original. Any suggestions?

[Linda G]

Whatever you say now will be fine. It's more important that a year from now you will be there when she wants to talk about her dad again. That's when the real friends will be needed.

[JamieGRL]

please let me know if there is anything i can do for you
my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family

I would send a card ... you know, a real card in the mail, not just a FB post.
send flowers to the funeral parlor
send food to the house
go and sit with your friend, and say nothing ... just being there will probably make them feel as tho life isn't all together awful

how sad for your friend.
sorry to hear that.

[Meri]

If you knew him, share your favorite memory of him, or a time that made you laugh with him. If you didn't know him, then simply say that you are sorry and that you hope her happy memories of him will help her through the sad times she is experiencing now...and that if she ever wants to just talk about him, you are there.

[Conqueror507]

The first thing you say is, "I am sorry for your loss."

You can always say, "It is hard, no matter how it comes."

"I will hold you in the light" is a good phrase. It has a spiritual quality at a time when people may have doubts about their own faith or resentment about people gushing about theirs.

The most important thing is that you listen to your friend. In conversation, if you are unsure, it is appropriate to ask if she was close to her father. I shall always remember that Charlotte Liz said, of my relationship with my mother, "Oh, you were estranged." It was like, "Char understands." That meant so much to me.

The hardest part of losing someone who is close to you is the day after everyone goes home. That's when it hits you, that's when you really need a friend. That feeling lasts for a long time.