Advent Funeral & Cremation Services

We wanted a simple cremation. We appreciated that they didn't try to sell us services that we didn't want.

Review of Advent Funeral and Cremation Services
From a NW DC resident

When my husband passed away unexpectedly, my daughter took on the job of comparing funeral services that had high marks from Consumers’ Checkbook. She recommended Advent because we would save a thousand dollars with them and because they, unlike the rest of the companies, did not pile on charges with extra services. More on that later.
It was clear from our first meeting with Advent personnel, in their attractive and convenient location, that we were in capable, professional hands. My husband died Christmas eve and they warned us that obtaining a death certificate over the holidays would be a slow process and assured us they would take care of everything from communicating with the hospital, bringing the remains to their location to securing the death certificates. I’m sure this is standard, but this is a whole new world to deal with when you are in shock over a great loss. Advent personnel know how to communicate and reassure and took over the daunting (to me) process of dealing with those steps.
I imagine that funeral homes are unfairly exaggerated when they are depicted in film. We experienced no raised eyebrow when we selected a cardboard casket for the cremation. We looked at but were under no pressure or encouragement to select urns from them, which we did not. Quite the contrary, Advent was all about service and divided the ashes and filled the urns we delivered at no extra cost. I should also add that we did not require any special memorial or obituary services. We were bare bones and they treated us wonderfully.
After my daughter conducted initial interviews with the various funeral services, I interviewed two that were move convenient to our NW DC home. Even though we chose cremation, I wanted to offer viewing to any members of our large family who might have wanted to say goodbye. The Jewish home in Takoma Park does not offer viewings, and the home in Georgetown requires embalming for viewings. As it turned out none of the children wanted to avail themselves of this kind of farewell.
Advent Services called me when they had picked up my husband’s body and I was required by law to identify him. They told me I could make the identification from a photo, but I wanted to see him. My last memory of him was at the emergency room with an intubation tube still holding his mouth open. Advent had closed his mouth and eyes, and he looked so restful and well cared for that I will be forever grateful to them. This last image was welcome and comforting after the invasiveness of the emergency room.
Finally, because I had accompanied the daughters of a close friend to her cremation and was shocked by the industrial, uncomfortable surroundings (no seating and with the appearance of an auto repair garage), I had asked my daughter to inquire about the facilities for cremation. Once again, Advent was the only one of the top tier that had a comfortable room for mourners who wish to be present for cremation. Zoning laws limit where cremations can occur, so it was a drive, but well worth it to be there in comfort for the beginning of the cremation process.
Matt from Advent was our major contact and he made the experience comforting, personal and professional. I highly recommend Advent for as good an experience as one can hope for during a sorrowful time, and for going above and beyond what we expected in helping us through this process. I also consider them a bargain. Making my husband look so good for my identification was an unexpected, but a highly appreciated bonus; the pleasant Cremation site, another.

Advent is the best! I wouldn't go anywhere else at such a difficult time and recommend them highly.