Abel Funeral Services — Consumer Profile

Abel Funeral Services is an independently owned, full-service funeral home in Phoenix, AZ, founded in 2002 and distinguished by its long-standing community roots and accessible price point. The home holds a 4.1/5 rating across 169 Google reviews and a 43-review presence on Yelp, reflecting a generally positive but occasionally inconsistent service experience. Reviewers and at least one third-party platform note that pricing is considered affordable relative to the Phoenix market.

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Locations

Primary Location 1627 N 51st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85035 Phone: (602) 442-7747 Hours: Monday–Wednesday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (full weekly hours available by inquiry)

This is Abel's single listed location. No facility-specific features (e.g., on-site crematory, chapel capacity, arrangement rooms) are described in available data.

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Services

According to the Abel Funeral Services website and confirmed by Ever Loved, the home offers:

• Cremation services
• Traditional (full-service) burial and funeral services
• Memorial ceremonies (multiple types)
• Pre-planning / pre-arrangement services
• Veterans benefits assistance (listed as a specialty on Yelp)
• Aftercare services
• Out-of-state coordination (confirmed by reviewer experience with remote family members)
• Body shipping / transportation

No data is available confirming an on-site crematory or owned cemetery.

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Pricing

No General Price List (GPL) data was available for structured table presentation at the time of this writing. One Ever Loved reviewer described Abel as "very affordable," and a Google reviewer noted that prices were "clearly itemized" and "reasonable." No specific package or itemized prices were present in the source data.

Families are encouraged to request the GPL directly — funeral homes are required by the FTC Funeral Rule to provide it upon request, in person or by phone.

Pricing transparency note: Because no GPL data is publicly indexed for Abel Funeral Services, direct price comparison is not possible here. Contact the home at (602) 442-7747 or visit abelfuneralservices.com to request itemized pricing before committing to arrangements.

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Reviews

Abel Funeral Services holds a 4.1/5 rating from 169 Google reviewers and is listed with 43 reviews on Yelp.

Positive Themes

1. Compassion during difficult moments Multiple reviewers specifically highlight the emotional support provided by staff. Kelly Doyle wrote: "When I broke down emotionally, they were incredibly loving, patient, and supportive… Everything was done with true care and compassion." This theme appears consistently across platforms.

2. Named staff recognized for exceptional care Staff members are frequently called out by name. Darren is mentioned by Gary Grainger, who used Abel for both parents: "Darren took such great care to make this experience as good as it could possibly have been… having him to guide me through my mother's was an absolute blessing." Heather is praised by Dee D. for being "very helpful and kind." Bri is highlighted in at least two Yelp reviews for professionalism and empathy.

3. Clear communication and remote coordination Mary Erickson, coordinating from out of state, noted: "They helped me fill out the forms accurately and kept me apprised with emails. Their prices were clearly itemized and prices were reasonable." This suggests the home has workable processes for families who cannot be physically present.

Concerns and Negative Patterns

Inconsistent front-desk experience Dee D. gave 4 stars and described a meaningful contrast in reception staff behavior: "An older woman at the reception desk didn't acknowledge me at all—no greeting or offer to help. I noticed she smiled and spoke kindly to an older gentleman she was assisting, but I didn't [receive the same]." While a single account, the nature of the concern — differential treatment of grieving visitors — is worth noting.

BBB complaint regarding communication and remains release A reviewer on the BBB profile described a more serious experience: "Able funeral home didn't inform my family that only 3 people were able to be at the appointment… then started telling us we could move my father's body but would have to pay them before they will release him after being completely disrespectful to us." This complaint involves policy communication failures and a dispute over remains release — both significant concerns for families to be aware of. The volume of such complaints is not quantified in available data, but families should clarify all policies (guest limits, payment timing, remains release procedures) in writing before arrangements are finalized.

No obituary services One Ever Loved reviewer noted disappointment that Abel does not offer obituary writing or placement assistance, which may be a gap for families expecting full-service support in that area.

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Ownership

Abel Funeral Services is independently owned and operated. According to MapQuest, the business was founded in 2002 by Michael Litchey and has since transitioned ownership to Spencer and Meghan McBride. No corporate parent or chain affiliation is indicated in any available source. The home is not part of a publicly traded funeral services group.

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Accreditations

• BBB Status: Not BBB Accredited. A BBB profile exists and is accessible, but the business has not sought or received BBB accreditation.
• No professional memberships (e.g., NFDA, NFDA state affiliate), awards, or state licensing details were present in the available data.

Families may wish to verify active funeral director licensing through the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers independently.

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Conclusion

Abel Funeral Services occupies a budget-to-mid-range position in the Phoenix funeral market, with particular appeal to families seeking affordable, compassionate service with straightforward communication. Its strengths are consistently described individual staff members, responsive remote coordination, and reasonable pricing — though the absence of a publicly available price list makes advance comparison difficult. The BBB non-accreditation and at least one substantive complaint about communication and remains-release procedures suggest families should confirm all policies in writing before proceeding; these are not necessarily disqualifying concerns, but they warrant a careful, questions-first approach when making initial contact.