cherryblossum - so sorry to hear of your colleagues loss, i will just share what my work did in a similar situation. they sent me a beautiful heartfelt card and some long stem white oriental lillies apparently I read somewhere after the fact that the smell of them signifies the smell of angel. I would however have to agree to auntie m, probably the best thing would be a card and maybe contact sids in your state i know they have the booklets on what to say and what not to say in this situation. i have to share that on my first day back one colleague did say to me "well life goes on", as you'd be able to tell thats one of the what not to says.