Staff
Our dedicated staff members are here to provide support, compassion, and information to help you through your journey of grief and the celebration of your loved one’s life.
A Personal Relationship
When a family suffers the loss of a loved one, it can be comforting to know your funeral director. This is our business, our hometown. We take great personal pride in making our funeral home the best it can be. It is very important to us not only to fill your current needs but to build a relationship so you will return to us in the future. We have a long-term commitment to this community. This is where we live, and this is where we plan to stay.
Long Term Commitment
For more than forty years, we have been honored whenever a family selects our firm to serve their needs. Forty years ago we made a promise to the community to provide the highest level of service while maintaining the level of professionalism that has come to be expected from our firm, to families at their greatest hour of need. Today we vow to continue that same care that has earned us the reputation that we carry on today.
A Focus on Families, Not Profits
Large corporations answer to shareholders. We answer to you. In our family owned company, there is no pressure from the corporate headquarters to increase profits. We understand our business will do well when we serve you well.
A funeral service should reflect the life of the person who is being remembered. We have established a tradition of assisting families in planning a ceremony that reflects and individual's life with dignity and meaning. Personalization can be realized simply by choosing the most appropriate services and products available. Our concerned staff will help you to make the decisions necessary, offering personalized guidance throughout all phases of the arrangements process.
At Caniff Funeral Home, we provide extraordinary service and compassionate care to families during their time of great need.
Caniff Funeral Home
Pat R. Caniff
1934-2022
Pat Ronald Caniff, 87 of Russell, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022 at Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland.
Pat was born September 2, 1934 in Fort Gay, West Virginia to the late Alphonso Sr. and Izzie Lester Caniff.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers Alphonso Caniff Jr., Mike Rollin Caniff, Robert Caniff and Mark Lester Caniff; and one sister Betty Jo Shope.
Pat was a 1952 Russell High School graduate, where he was a member of the 1951 undefeated Football team and a member of the track team. After high school, Pat served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and then the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1st Marine Division as a Corpsman. He was honorably discharged in 1956. Pat graduated from Cincinnati College of Embalming (now Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science) in 1960 and returned to the Russell area working as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer until 1961. While working, he attended Ashland Community College. In 1962, he established Caniff-Riggs Funeral Home in Westwood, with Eddie L. Riggs. Later, he obtained ownership of the funeral home, renaming it Caniff Funeral Home. Pat was instrumental in the formation of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department. From the 1960’s to the late 1970’s he ran the ambulance service for Westwood from the funeral home. He not only responded ambulance calls but fire calls as well.
Pat has served in multiple offices of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky and was elected President of the Association in 1978. One of his proudest accomplishments was the creation of the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky Scholarship Program. He served as chairman of the program until his death. To date, the program has awarded 48 scholarships and over $123,000 to worthy students who now practice as licensed Funeral Directors and Embalmers in the state of Kentucky. This scholarship now carries the name of the Pat R. Caniff Scholarship Trust. He was an active member of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Burial Association; a member of National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) since 1962; a former NFDA Policy Board Member; and a charter member of Tri-State Livery Service.
Pat was also involved with various other civic and fraternal organizations including, 50 plus year member and Past Master of Fred M. Gross Lodge #953 F&AM; 33° Valley of Covington Scottish Rite Mason; Past President of Ashland-Russell Scottish Rite Club; Ashland York Rite (Apperson Chapter #81, Everette Council #65, Ashland Commandry #28); Past Potentate and Life Member of El Hasa Shrine; Royal Order of Scotland Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter; Past Sovereign of St. Barnabas #31 Conclave of Louisville Red Cross of Constantine; Past Director of Big Sandy Court #172 Royal Order of Jesters; a charter member of the Westwood Chapter #569 Order of Eastern Star; Former Member of Westwood Boys Club; Past President and Current Treasurer of Westwood Lions Club; Emeritus Member of Board of Governors Member Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Lexington, Kentucky; a member of the Russell High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame class of 2010 and Russell High School Athletic Hall of fame class of 2016. He was a member and Elder of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years Dana Smith Caniff; one son Patrick Jason “P.J.” Caniff of Russell; one daughter Marcia Caniff Davis (George) of Ashland; one granddaughter Olivia Davis; numerous nieces and nephews along with a host of extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Caniff Funeral Home in Westwood with Jimm Smedley and Jack Edwards officiating. Burial will follow at Bellefonte Memorial Gardens. Military Honors will be provided by the Kenova American Legion Post #93 and the United States Navy. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on Wednesday from 5 to 9. Masonic services and Scottish Rite services will take place on Wednesday evening beginning at 7:00 PM.
Online condolences may be left at canifffuneralhome.com
The family will accept flowers or donations in Pat’s memory may be made to the Pat R. Caniff Scholarship Fund C/O Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky P.O. Box 4779 Frankfort, KY 40604-4779 or the Shriners Hospitals for Children Attn: Processing Center PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394.
- Graduate of Ashland High School
- Attended Centre College
- Worked in doctor's office for many years
- Member of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte
- Graduate of Russell High School
- Attended University of Kentucky
- Graduate of Marshall University
- Graduate of Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
- Second generation funeral director
- Attends Rose Hill Baptist Church with husband, George
- 1998 Graduate of Fairview High School
- Member and Deacon at Fairview Baptist Church
- Lifelong resident of Westwood