U.S. Army veteran was an avid golfer
SOUTH YARMOUTH — Bernard L. Caniff Sr., 95, of South Yarmouth, formerly of Lynnfield, passed away at his home on Dec. 31, 2024.
He was born in Shrewsbury on July 21, 1928 and was the son of the late Leo B. and Isabelle (Dean) Caniff. Mr. Caniff was raised in Shrewsbury and was a graduate of Shrewsbury High School, Class of 1946, and he also graduated from Clark University’s business school. In 1951, he enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country. Mr. Caniff worked many years as a self-employed dealer for Chrysler Corp before getting into the recycling industry, from which he retired.
Together with his late wife Anne, Mr. Caniff started his family in Worcester before moving to Lynnfield in 1959 to raise his four children. He was a member of St. Maria Goretti Parish. The family enjoyed summers on Cape Cod and he also enjoyed spending winters in Naples, Florida. He was an avid golfer and was a member of both Salem Country Club and Pelican Bay Country Club.
Mr. Caniff is survived by his wife, Carol (Koulis) Caniff. He also leaves behind his son, Bernard L. Caniff Jr. and his wife, Deborah, of Swampscott; his daughters, Mary Tylicki and her late husband, Robert, of Valley Center, California; and Kathleen Brainerd and her husband, Michael, of North Reading. Eight grandchildren also survive Mr. Caniff: Bernard L. Caniff III, John W. Caniff, Kelly C. Mello, Robert A. Tylicki Jr., Tara Tylicki, Michael L. Brainerd Jr., Lindsay A. Driscoll and Caitlin R. Gasparian. Twelve great-grandchildren also survive Mr. Caniff: Brandon, Jack, Justin, Madison, Olivia, Ryan, Finn, Chloe, Lilly, Isabella, Leah and Luke. He was predeceased by his first wife, Anne (Lyons) Caniff, with whom he shared 48 years of marriage and his son, William Caniff.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Maria Goretti Church, 112 Chestnut St., Lynnfield, on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. There will be no visiting hours. A private interment for the family will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Lynnfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Anne and Bernard Caniff Sr. Fund at St. John’s Preparatory School, 72 Spring St., Danvers, MA 01923 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. The McDonald Funeral Home in Wakefield is handling the arrangements.