S. W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, Inc.

About S. W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, Inc.

On January 1, 1950, a tradition began.


A tradition of a family-owned and operated funeral home that carried the principles of professionalism and dedication to service, that has characterized it for more than half a century. This dedication to service has been passed for three generations. In 1950, Samuel W. Brown and his wife Anne established their funeral home in a two-family brick structure at 267 Centre St. in Nutley, New Jersey. The building was purchased in 1949 from Mrs. Brown's uncle and aunt, Ralph and Angelica Jannarone. The first floor apartment was renovated to accommodate the funeral home, and the Browns moved to the second floor. A new facade and office were added to the original building in 1954.


In 1956, the one-family stucco residence on the west side of the funeral home was purchased from Mary Vitolo. In 1959, the two buildings were joined together. The entire first floor of the two buildings was used for the funeral home, and two apartments were made on the second floor. Over the years there have been several alterations done to the interior and exterior of the building. This created the appearance that the funeral home was one building, and not two buildings joined together. The interior was made more functional and spacious with each improvement. Also, two residences were purchased and one was razed on Brookline Avenue for parking.


In 1961 John F. Brown, son of Samuel W. and Anne J. Brown, became licensed as a practitioner of mortuary science, thus the name of the funeral home was changed to S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home. Upon John's graduation from Seton Hall University in 1964, he joined the family business on a full time basis. In 1974 John and his wife Jo-Ann, purchased the business and property from Samuel Brown who had recently become a widower. In 1976 the business was incorporated with John F. Brown becoming the funeral home manager.


In 1986, John purchased the Johnesee Nutley Home For Funerals from Everett and Mary Jayne Johnesee who sold the property on Washington Ave. in Nutley. The funeral business was relocated to 267 Centre Street and is now run as a dual operation with both corporations using the same facility. John F. Brown is the manager of both corporations. Peter Brown, the third generation, graduated from Xavier University in 1989. After which he completed mortuary college and was licensed in 1992.There are also several other full time employees at the funeral home. Samuel W. Brown passed away peacefully on July 27, 2008 in his apartment above the funeral home.


We are not affiliated with any corporations that purchase and operate a large number of funeral homes. We are a family business, and that is how we operate. We treat all of our families as individuals, not numbers. We will answer all of your calls.


* 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week, 365 Days a Year


It is within this framework of an honored tradition that we continue to serve our families.