Advent Funeral & Cremation Services

Jerome T. McNamara

adventfuneral — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:54:47 +0000

David Andrew “Drew” Lewis

adventfuneral — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:51:36 +0000

Patricia Ann Zimmerman

adventfuneral — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:29:22 +0000

Patricia Ann Zimmerman (August 6, 1929 – February 12, 2012)

Patricia Ann Zimmerman (82) of Arlington VA passed away on February 12, 2012. Born August 6, 1929 in New York City, Pat was the second child of Arthur Strahlendorff and Anita Lynch, and grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey. For much of her life, Pat lived in New York and Connecticut. In 1984 she moved to Arlington to be near her grandchildren.
A graduate of Western Connecticut State College, over the years Pat worked in publishing, legal firms, and corporate relocation services; as an aide to former Arlington State Senator Edward M. Holland; and, finally for Volunteers of America at the Residential Program Center in Arlington, from which she retired in 2004.
Throughout her life, Pat was devoted to literature, music, and the arts. Her musical appreciation spanned jazz, rock and roll, and classical. (The poodle to which she was devoted for years was named “Mozart.”) There was no limit to the number of movies she could watch or the details she could cite about each. Wherever she lived, Pat frequented art museums, was an avid photographer, and regularly attended the theater. In her final years she signed up for every course on Shakespeare offered by the Arlington Learning in Retirement Institute. She enjoyed her last play a week before her death, at Arlington’s American Century Theater.
Active at church throughout her life, Pat worked to enhance ecumenical roles for women and improve services for those in need. A lifelong Democrat, Pat volunteered with the Arlington Democrats and kept up on elections local and national until the end.
Patricia is survived by her two children, Christopher (wife Mary Beth) and Jennifer, and grandchildren Nathan (wife Rachel), Rebecca, and Madeleine.
A memorial service will be held Monday, February 20 at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 915 N. Oakland St., Arlington, VA, 22203 at 12:30, followed by a reception until 2:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Culpepper Garden* or American Century Theater**, both in Arlington.
_______________________
*Culpepper Garden
Attn: Fund Development Department
4435 N. Pershing Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
** The American Century Theater,
PO Box 6313,
Arlington, Virginia 22206

Vicki J. Adams

adventfuneral — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:59:47 +0000

Vicki Adams was granted her angel wings on Friday, February 10, 2012 in Arlington, Virginia. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends that Vicki had touched in some small way throughout her short, yet very memorable life.

Vicki’s life would seem too short to many, but those who were touched by her understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives. Her personality was as big as her smile, and as bright as her enchanting green eyes. Vicki was always the first person in the room to be noticed, and the last person you wanted to leave the party. Beautiful on the inside and out, not even a horrible fight with Cancer could take away her courage, beauty, and grace.

At her request, no service will be held.

Dorothy Jean Benson

adventfuneral — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:59:21 +0000

Dorothy Jean Benson (81), passed away on February 10, 2012 with her daughters by her side. She was born on October 21, 1930 in Buffalo, NY and was a longtime resident of Northern Virginia.
Dorothy lived a life of sharing and creativity. She used her joyful, creative approach as she worked with girl scouts, foster children and intellectually disabled adults to support the development of skills that helped them to live fulfilled lives. She was also well known as an accomplished fine artist. She was a painter working predominantly in oils on canvas. She studied at the Schuler School of Fine Art in Baltimore, the Art League School at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington. She received numerous awards and recognition for her work as an artist. She continued to teach children and adults until she recently became ill. Her fellow artists and students will be forever grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from an artist as skilled and giving as Dorothy.
Dorothy is survived by a sister, Elvira Schultz (Robert). Her siblings Janet Arntz and Kenneth Rigerman predeceased her. She is also survived by two daughters Linda Lachapelle (David) and Amy Davis; and grandchildren Hilary Burns, Adam Davis, and Ian Lachapelle.
A Celebration Of Her Life will be held on Thursday, February 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Fair Oaks Church, 4601 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. The service will be followed by a light supper/hors d’oeuvres and dessert while surrounded by memories of Dorothy through a display of her art work. To honor Dorothy’s creative outlook, COLORFUL attire is preferred!

Donations in Dorothy’s memory may be made to any one of the following organizations.

Valley Educational Center for the Creative Arts (VECCA):
P.O. Box 787
Woodstock, VA 22664
www.vecca.org
540-459-7595
The Art League School:
Online donation: https://www.theartleague.org/donations/add
Mail:
The Art League
ATTN: Development Office
105 N. Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-519-1741

The Vienna Arts Society:
115 Pleasant Street, NW
Vienna, VA 22180
703-319-3971

Mark T. Robbins

adventfuneral — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:11:08 +0000

Mark T. Robbins of Annandale, Va., suddenly on Wednesday, February 8. He is survived by his loving wife, Grace Robbins, and son, Joey, both of Annandale, Va.; daughter, Lizzie Robbins, of Greensboro, Ala.; mother, Constance Robbins, of Sterling, Va.; brothers, Jack B. Robbins Jr. and Paul D. Robbins of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and sister, Kittye Delle (Stuart) Robbins-Herring of Starkville, Miss. He joins his much-loved father, Jack B. Robbins, who died in 2010.

Mark was a language arts teacher at The Langley School in McLean, Va.

The family will receive friends on Monday, February 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Church of the Apostles Anglican, 3500 Pickett Road, Fairfax, VA 22031, where funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 14, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack B. and Constance K. Robbins endowed scholarship, University of Alabama, Box 870101, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487.

John T. Robinson

adventfuneral — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:59:32 +0000

Stephen B. McCall

adventfuneral — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:49:31 +0000

Hope Piovia

adventfuneral — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:01:25 +0000

Stanley H. Gaffen

adventfuneral — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:01:18 +0000

Stanley H. Gaffen
Dept. of Transportation Official

Stanley Gaffen (83) former Program Analyst for the Department of Transportation, died on January 30 of cancer.

Mr. Gaffen retired in 1994 after a career working as a program analyst for the Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Agency, NASA and for the Navy Department’s Operations Evaluation Group. He graduated from Hunter College with a BA and received a MS in Mathematics from MIT.

Survivors include his wife, the former Margaret McLennan, two daughters, Leah Gaffen of Prague, CZ, and Sarah Gaffen of Pittsburgh, and three grandchildren.