funeral director and owner, Vito Nero Funeral Home, Cleveland, Ohio, and Blessing Cremation Center, Mentor, Ohio, died July 4, 2022, at age 66. Nero began working in the family business in 1969 and became owner in 1989. He graduated from the University of Miami, earned his CFSP and served as president of the Cuyahoga Funeral Directors Association and as a board member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. Clearly seeing the changing trends in funeral service, Nero opened Blessing Cremation Center.

Nero was an active participant in the Baranello Lodge, Special Olympics, Garfield Heights/Padua/North Royalton hockey programs and the Village of Valley View. He was president of the Exchange Club and a member of Knights of Columbus and the Northern Ohio Italian Americans Society.

He is survived by sons Joseph and Angelo, and brother Robert.

retired funeral director, White Plains, New York, died May 4, 2022, at age 93. Lee was a second-generation owner of the 107-year-old Lee’s Funeral Home. A lifelong White Plains resident, Lee had many ties to civic organizations, including funeral directing, magic, Masonic and area events, including the White Plains Juneteenth Heritage, where he and his wife will be honored as grand marshals of this year’s parade and festival.

Lee is survived by wife JoAnne, daughter Jennifer and son T.J.

funeral director and owner, Caniff Funeral Home, Ashland, Kentucky, died May 1, 2022, at age 87. Caniff served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War and then in the U.S. Marine Corps as a corpsman. He graduated from Cincinnati College of Embalming (now Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science). 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. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department.

Caniff held multiple offices with the Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky (FDAK) and served as president in 1978. A proud accomplishment was the creation of the FDAK Scholarship Program (now the Pat R. Caniff Scholarship Trust), for which he served as chairman until his death. To date, the program has awarded 48 scholarships and more than $123,000 to students who now practice as licensed funeral directors in the state of Kentucky.

Caniff was a member of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Burial Association, an NFDA member since 1962, a former NFDA Policy Board representative and a charter member of Tri-State Livery Service.

He was a 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, past potentate and life member of El Hasa Shrine, charter member of Westwood Chapter 569 Order of Eastern Star, past president and current treasurer of Westwood Lions Club and emeritus member of the Shriner’s Hospital for Children Board of Governors in Lexington.

He is survived by wife Dana; son Patrick Jason, “P.J.”; daughter Marcia; and granddaughter Olivia.

funeral director and owner, Taylor Funeral Home, Chicago, Illinois, died June 30, 2022, at age 93. Taylor attended Prairie State College and shortly thereafter received a graduate certificate from Worsham College of Mortuary Science. He was awarded a master’s degree in business administration from Jackson State College. Taylor also served in the Illinois National Guard for 22 years, retiring as first sergeant. He also attained his pilot’s license and has flown for more than 25 years.

He founded Taylor Funeral Home in 1963, and the business grew steadily, allowing him to found Thrifty Printing as well. Taylor also acquired Oak Hill Cemetery Association in Gary, Indiana, where he built a mausoleum of 500 crypts. Another Taylor Funeral Home location was acquired later. Taylor was a member of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, NFDA, the National Funeral Directors Pilots Association, National Select Morticians Association and the National Baptist Convention College Board, among many other organizations.

He is survived by wife Leyeuna, and children Nicholas and Margo, all of whom are licensed funeral directors.

retired director and owner, Murphy-Musgrove Funeral Home, Junction City, Oregon, died June 7, 2022, at age 91. He served in the U.S. Navy and attended funeral service college in Los Angeles. He was a 60-year member and past president of the Downtown Eugene Lions Club, as well as past president of the Oregon Funeral Directors Association, the Oregon State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, and the Eugene Active 20/30 Club.

Musgrove served on the boards of the Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation, Lane County Cancer Society, Goodwill Industries and Lane County Council on Alcoholism. He was a board and Executive Committee member of Eugene Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Oregon Lions Eye Bank Operating Committee. An avid Ducks fan, he and his family established a Musgrove Family Scholarship for local athletes.

After the tragic loss of his only brother, John, in Vietnam, Musgrove stepped forward as surrogate father to his children.

His life with wife Kay was cut short by her tragic death. In 2002, he married Ann Lamon. Together, they established a vocal scholarship in the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance.

He is survived by wife Ann, sons Mark and Jeff (NFDA past president and Policy Board member, respectively), daughter Jan, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

funeral director and owner, Vito Nero Funeral Home, Cleveland, Ohio, and Blessing Cremation Center, Mentor, Ohio, died July 4, 2022, at age 66. Nero began working in the family business in 1969 and became owner in 1989. He graduated from the University of Miami, earned his CFSP and served as president of the Cuyahoga Funeral Directors Association and as a board member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. Clearly seeing the changing trends in funeral service, Nero opened Blessing Cremation Center.

Nero was an active participant in the Baranello Lodge, Special Olympics, St. Monica’s Church, Garfield Heights/Padua/North Royalton Hockey Programs and the Village of Valley View. He was president of the Exchange Club and a member of Knights of Columbus and the Northern Ohio Italian Americans Society.

He is survived by sons Joseph and Angelo, and brother Robert.

funeral director and owner, Vito Nero Funeral Home, Cleveland, Ohio, and Blessing Cremation Center, Mentor, Ohio, died July 4, 2022, at age 66. Nero began working in the family business in 1969 and became owner in 1989. He graduated from the University of Miami, earned his CFSP and served as president of the Cuyahoga Funeral Directors Association and as a board member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association. Clearly seeing the changing trends in funeral service, Nero opened Blessing Cremation Center.

Nero was an active participant in the Baranello Lodge, Special Olympics, St. Monica’s Church, Garfield Heights/Padua/North Royalton Hockey Programs and the Village of Valley View. He was president of the Exchange Club and a member of Knights of Columbus and the Northern Ohio Italian Americans Society.

He is survived by sons Joseph and Angelo, and brother Robert.

director/owner, McVeigh Funeral Home, Albany, New York, died May 30, 2022, at 87. He ­graduated Simmons School of Funeral Directing and joined his father as the third generation at the firm. McVeigh served as board member and leader of various organizations: Albany-Rensselaer Funeral Directors Association (former president), New York State Funeral Directors Association (past president) and NFDA (past regional governor).

He also served on the boards of the Albany Executives Association, Senior Citizens Foundation, Visiting Nurses Association and St. Peter’s Hospice Advisory Committee. McVeigh was a member of Irish Heritage Museum, Knights of Columbus and Elks Lodge #49. Dearest to him was helping establish Camary Statewide Services, which provides residential homes for autistic adults. Living Resources, of which McVeigh was a former board president, merged with Camary and still provides services to McVeigh’s eldest son.

He is survived by children William Jr., Brian, Kristin and Laurel; and five grandchildren.

funeral director/president, Hollomon-Brown ­Funeral Home and Crematory, Virginia Beach, Virginia, died June 18, 2022, at age 86. Jones was city councilman and former mayor of the City of Virginia Beach.

He is survived by wife Ellen, four children, 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

director/owner, Conner & Koch Funeral Home, Bellbrook, Ohio, died June 27, 2022, at age 56. He was managing director from 1990-99, when he acquired the firm from its owners, his parents. Koch worked to make Bellbrook Plaza something the whole town was proud of. He originated Picnic in the Plaza, was involved in many organizations and passionate about Bellbrook Sugarcreek Chamber of Commerce, For Bellbrook By Bellbrook, Coffee With Champions and Bellbrook by Design.

He is survived by wife Donna; daughters Mackenzie, Addison and Brydon; son Cole; six grandchildren; parents Steve and Kathy Connor; and two siblings. Donna and Addison are funeral directors at Conner & Koch.