Richard Keenan grew up in Ovid, NY. He attended The Simmons School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY. He graduated in 1960 and took his residency at The Butler Funeral Home. He and Sally, who grew up in Willard, NY, married in 1959. In 1962 they made their first move as a family to Watertown, NY where Richard worked for The Simpson Funeral Home for one year before deciding to move to Fairport and open a business of their own.

The village location was built in the 1800s and stood under different ownership for the first part of the century. Richard became involved in 1964 when they officially opened the Keenan – Root Funeral Home. And in 1967 the present incarnation of Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home was officially opened.

During their time in Fairport Richard and Sally have fully immersed themselves in the community. They are members of many local organizations such as the Lions Club, Ladies Auxiliary, Fairport Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, the VFW and American Legion. They are members of the Church of the Assumption, active in the local sports community and sat on the Board of Fairport Savings and Loan.

The Keenan’s have lived and worked in Fairport for over 50 years. They have raised four children (three daughters and a son) in the community and have truly built a home in the small canal-side suburban town. Both of them have said, “It was the best move they ever made.