I say. " their pain is gone. " " They are beyond fear and the suffering it brings" or other such things if i think i can say anything that will comfort.

Excellent words indeed. <3

Sadly they don't help as much as i would like.

It would depend on the situation. If the person in question was suffering then that would be a good thing to say.

that is true.

I find the idea of non-existence comforting. If non-existent, you have no awareness or consciousness to feel any negativity with. You don't feel any positive feelings either, but it doesn't matter. Good and bad feelings only matter when someone Exists -- feelings, meaning, identity, all those types of things, only matter when there is a Self to have them, when there is a Self to struggle with avoiding misery and achieving whatever is Good. Non-Existence and a totally Good Existence are of equal value when looking at them logically. But while alive, while Existing, we automatically have meaning and we are in the game of Get the Good, avoid the Bad. But that game is only necessary when someone is alive. When suicidal, I wonder if I want that game, or if I want to leave it, like leaving a lucid dream. In death, all the meaning of Life is like waking from a dream -- the things in the dream are no longer serious or necessary. In the dream I had to complete a lot of math homework -- on waking I am relieved there is no math homework, and I have a free day in which I don't have to do anything. That is non-existence, leaving the tethers of this world behind. The option for death, for non-existence, is the option for freedom; a belief in non-existence after death makes all living actions ultimately free, an if this is kept in mind, a living person won't feel locked into any obligation. Not even the obligation to live. Someone who believes in non-existence is Free.

I don't bother comforting non believers. I feel there isn't much to be said. I personally hate dwelling on such subjects and prefer to move on. As an atheist, I would be even more compelled to move on and not think of it. It is inevitable. In most cases, at the heart of the distress, who you are truly sad for is your self. YOU won't see them again. YOU won't talk to them again. It's best to simply find other things to focus on besides remorse or even self-pity. That's quite a difficult thing to do, and I realize that. But if you believe in nothing after death, or in god I suppose, then I suggest you get back in the swings the best you can, as fast as you can. You only have so much time before it's you're turn, so don't squander it on years of remorse.

Depends on the person - But for me even though I am not religious I simply say:
''Death is another Beginning, One which we all must take part''.

To someone who does not believe, I comfort them by reminding them of that person's good qualities and good life experiences. Mourning is a natural part of acceptance for anyone's death, but it is overcoming this sad state by reminding ourselves of the fond memories we shared with that person and how they impacted our lives.

''They may be gone from life, but their essence and memories has touched and founded our very lives''.

They've been freed from pain.

as it is my normal response since i am not of any popular faith and try not to push mine on others is that i am very sorry for their loss (which i was happy to note was the number one in that article) and try to relate to them the nature of loss and that in time you do remember the good times more and the loss less. having lost two dads and very close friends i am very familiar with loss like that. i would offer help (which is a long standing family tradition to bring food and check in on people and make sure things run smoothly and to keep them distracted from the worst of it and remind them they are not alone.)