Griffin family continues legacy of family mortuary service
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Ownership of Griffin Bros. Mortuary, a name long familiar to residents of Conejo and Pleasant valleys, is back in the hands of the family that forged it 56 years ago.

Brothers Tim, Mark and Gilbert Griffin and their brotherinlaw Jim Bond opened Griffin Family Funeral Chapels in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo in September.

"We believe we can offer personal, caring service," said Bond, 56.

A grand opening date has yet to be scheduled.

The partners are carrying on a legacy started by family patriarch Russell Griffin and his brother Tom in 1951 when the siblings opened a funeral home on Oak Street in Camarillo.

Several years later, the Griffins opened a second mortuary in Thousand Oaks and moved the downtown business in Camarillo a few miles away to a building adjacent to the 101 Freeway.

For nearly 20 years the sign out in front announced to freeway commuters the Griffin name, until 1984 when the brothers merged with another company founded by siblings, Pierce Bros.

Semi-retired, Russell and Tom could devote more time to their families. Both fully retired a few years later, and in January of this year the 56yearold Griffin tradition ended when Pierce Bros. Griffin Mortuary in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo closed.

Just a month before, Bond and his brothers-in-law kicked around the idea of reestablishing Russell's legacy- he had died five years earlier.

"We all had something to contribute," said Bond, a veterinarian who had just retired and missed the steady pace of work life.

Mark Griffin, 48, is a retired firefighter, and 51yearold Gilbert ran his own business for many years. All of the Griffin boys grew up around the family business.

Fifty-year-old Tim Griffin had worked alongside his father and uncle in the mortuary business for 30 years. "They were the consummate professionals," he said of the elder Griffins.

The secondgeneration Griffins said they'll continue their family tradition of attentive, compassionate service. They handle all aspects of the funeral services in-house. Call any hour day or night and a Griffin family member will answer the phone.

Their uncle, Tom Griffin, is a part-time consultant.

Bond said that, as the owners, they aren't hampered by corporate rules and policies and so can meet the needs of their clients.

As for the future, Tim Griffin said they may open up more funeral homes but it will never be at the expense of caring for their clients.

"Like I tell everyone, we're here to help where we can," he said.