How can we say things in a manner that hurts the least?

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I have been thinking, is there anyway we could make hurtful things hurt less? Like how can you say to a mother that her child is dying, and at the same time hope that she would remain calm, and not cover herself with unending tears? I was faced with this question when I heard my aunt underwent a brain surgery because of aneurysm and was state in coma. Being the closest relative, I had to go to her place, which is around 5 hours of train ride. When I arrived there, I heard the story of what happened, and what may about to happen, and had to relay this to my family and relatives, esp to her mother and children. It was a big responsibility for me since it was only I who could easily go there while they cannot because of lack of passport, visa, money, etc. And no much time. I had to talk to my relatives through skype and I had to compose myself whenever I talk to them. I couldn't just break down and cry. I had to find the right words--the words that would heal not worsen the wound. But I am not sure if I did a good job on that. I had to say to them the small chance of my aunt recovering. I had seen them cry. They were so far away but the weight of their pain was so close that I, too, could feel it pulling down my heart. Is there an easy way to say that a loved one will soon be no longer with us? And so my aunt passed away after a week of being unconscious, and I asked myself again, how could I say that without really breaking their hearts. But there was no other way but to say it and break their hearts. Hurtful things will always hurt however you say them. What matters is what you do after--that you comfort each other; that you become each other's strength; that whatever happens next, you still have each other. Things that hurt us will sooner or later happen to us, more often than not, but as long as we have a Big God to depend on, we know for sure that we will always come out victorious, and as better people.