Staff
Once you request the services of Browning-Forshay Funeral Home, we will immediately put our experienced funeral professionals to work for you. A single, dedicated individual will stay in contact with you every step of the way and guide you through the decision-making process. He or she will carefully explain your options, make recommendations at your request, take care of all the small details, and ensure that you and your family’s personal touch is always present.
Family Service When it Means the Most.
In 1953, Robert Browning acquired the Peter Mason Funeral Home. When he was joined in the business by George Forshay, they made an agreement: their new funeral home would devote every effort to providing the most personal, the most caring, and the most compassionate service to families in their time of sorrow.
It is the type of commitment that lasts for decades…even centuries. Today, George Forshay and his staff of professionals uphold that agreement with every family served, making things “just a bit easier” for friends and relatives. Our commitment is so strong that we were recognized as Hawthorne Company of the Year in 1996, and we still serve the community from our original location, a landmark home on Lafayette Avenue.
Over the years, we have expanded the facility to provide even more complete service to Hawthorne and surrounding communities. We also have a dedicated staff that is ready to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our Staff of Professionals
Meet the people of Browning-Forshay who care about you and your family.
A lifelong resident of Hawthorne, Mr. Forshay is a 1969 graduate of Hawthorne High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ in 1973 and graduated as valedictorian from McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science in 1977.
He is a member of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, the National Funeral Directors Association and the Hawthorne Lion’s Club. Additionally, he was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Paterson, serving the Diocese and St. Anthony's R.C. Church in Hawthorne. In that capacity, he is the Chaplain of Hawthorne PBA#200, the Hawthorne Fire Department and the Hawthorne Domestic Violence Response Team.
Mary (Donohue) Forshay, also a lifelong resident of Hawthorne, is a 1969 graduate of Hawthorne High School and a 2002 graduate of William Paterson University. In 1973 she married George Forshay. They have two children: daughter, Lauren and son, Michael, and his wife, Danielle. The newest additions to their family are grandson Matthew and granddaughter, Caitlin.
Mary is non licensed and cannot make funeral arrangements.
Born in Paterson, Michael graduated from Manchester Regional High School in 1984. During high school, he served as freshman and sophomore class president. In 1989, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from William Paterson College, and later attended the McAllister Institute of Funeral Service. He graduated summa cum laude from McAllister, receiving the Faculty Award for proficiency in funeral service, the Thomas M. Quinn Award for outstanding student achievement, and the Mu Sigma Alpha award for his academic accomplishments. He has been associated with Browning-Forshay Funeral Home since 1995. Michael is a parishioner of St. Anthony’s R.C. Church, and is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association.
Mike Forshay was born and raised in Hawthorne. He graduated Don Bosco Prep High School in 1997 and joined the Class of 2001 at the United States Naval Academy. While at the Naval Academy, Mike studied Political Science and graduated with distinction. Following graduation, he moved to Pensacola, FL to start Flight Training. That training later led him to Corpus Christi where he earned his "Wings of Gold" in January 2003. As a pilot Mike was assigned to Patrol Squadron Ten in Brunswick, Maine, where he became an Instructor Pilot and Mission Commander in the P-3 Orion platform. During the 3 years in Maine, he made three overseas deployments, spending the majority of the time in Al Udeid, Qatar where he flew 39 combat missions in the skies over Iraq. After his operational tour in Maine, Mike headed back to Corpus Christi where he was an instructor Pilot for Advanced Flight Training. Among numerous other awards, Mike was awarded the Air Medal for his combat flying and the Navy Commendation Medal for exceptional service. In 2002, he married the former Danielle Hayes, also of Hawthorne. Together, they have two wonderful children, Matthew and Caitlin, and reside in Glen Rock.
Mike is a 2010 graduate of McAllister Institute of Mortuary Science.
Mia graduated Holy Cross High School in 2007 and went on to receive an Associate Degree in Arts from Mercer County Community College in 2009. Mia continued her education at Mercer where she earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science and Certificate of Proficiency in Funeral Service in 2014. Prior to joining the staff at Browning-Forshay Funeral Home in 2015, Mia had been working to serve families in the funeral service industry for four years. Mia believes that it is her duty to serve all families with a caring attitude and assist them in any way possible.