Around this time Annie met Nick Browne. Their parents were friends and Annie and Nick married in 1925. Determined to continue after the fire, Nick joined Annie in her family business. They had seven children. Their eldest son became a priest and so the mantle fell to Tom, the third youngest to take over the family business, now in the name of Browne. He learnt his carpentry trade inhouse, as traditionally undertakers made all the coffins and makers themselves and so were skilled carpenters, and Tom and his staff were one of the last funeral directors in Ireland to make their own coffins. This practice has long since been replaced by modern manufacturing processes.
Tom Dreelan started working at Browne’s Funeral Home in 1982, and in 1985 The Browne’s bought Riverview House, the current location of Browne’s Funeral Home. The beautiful building was built in 1986/7. Both Toms spent many years working together, and Paul started working with his father, aged only 16 years. After school Paul completed a business degree, trained to be an accountant, and also qualified as an embalmer. He spent a year and a half training in Mayo. He is now a member of the British Institute of Embalmers and The Irish Association of Funeral Directors.
Modern day funeral planning, processes and traditions have changed completely since the time of the O’Rielly brothers, and even since Tom joined the business in the 1940’s, but the attention to detail, the care and respect shown to the deceased and their families never has. Paul proudly continues these traditions to this day.
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