In 1889, a time when it was still customary for wakes and funerals to be held in the home rather than a funeral home, P.H. O’Neill founded the O’Neill Funeral Home located at 463 and 465 Spring Street in Newport, Rhode Island.

P.H. O’Neill owned and operated the O’Neill Funeral Home until his death in 1920 when his daughter Mary “May” and her husband -P.H. O’Neill’s assistant- Joseph Nolan, continued his work. In 1958, after providing 38 years of service and having no children of their own, May and Joseph sold the funeral home to May’s nephew, John F. Hayes, Jr. who relocated from the outskirts of New Hampshire to Newport.

John operated the O’Neill Funeral Home for 26 years before selling the business to his son, Charles J. "Charlie" Hayes in 1984. That same year the funeral home was renamed to the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home.

Charles J. Hayes still owns and operates the funeral home today which is located at 465 Spring St., in Newport, Rhode Island.