Honi Olivia Norene Irish passed peacefully, surrounded by her children and grandson, just after midnight, Monday, the morning of November 8, 2021, at St Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Honi was born in Oakland, California on October 5, 1947, to Dan and Doris Rice. Growing up she spent time at the family farm in Upham, North Dakota during the warm months developing a great love of nature and animals. Upon graduating high school, she studied animal husbandry at the community college in Minot, North Dakota. In California, she married Even Roger Westerberg, the love of her life, on St Patrick's Day 1967. Together, in Colorado, they welcomed their son Patrick Daniel Westerberg on May 17, 1971, and daughter Bernadette Angelic Westerberg on April 12, 1972, to the family. Honi became a school bus driver in Colorado and took pride in winning the statewide School Bus Rodeo Championship for her advanced maneuvering skills and professionalism. In California she gifted and sold many custom hand drawn posters of school buses to her fellow drivers. In Crestline, California Honi became the homeowner of her mountain cottage dream home in 1986. On July 4, 1989, Honi added her son, Nicholas Prescott Irish, to her loving family, taking great joy in being a stay-at-home mom. She became active in the Relief Society of her local ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She worked with the Save Our Squirrels (SOS) society; and enjoyed producing a prodigious body of Tole Painting crafts; all which resulted in her having many friends. In July of 2016, being a mother first, she joined her adult son, Nicholas, and his wife in Nampa, Idaho. Again, she became active in the local Church ward; she enjoyed arts, crafts, and exercising at the Nampa Senior Citizens Center. She took great joy in joining the residents of Mercy Creek Apartments for Friday night potlucks as well as completing puzzles, many of which still hang in the common areas and hallways of the complex she called home. Honi is survived by her son, Patrick and his partner, Jason Soley, of Springfield, Oregon; her daughter, Bernadette and her son, Honi's grandson, Evan Ibarra (of whom she was so proud) of Culver City, California; and her beloved son, Nicholas and his wife, Cori, of Nampa, Idaho. Additionally, she is survived by her siblings: Glen Irish of Princeton, California, Coral Rugge of Pacific Palisades, California and Dan Irish of West Point, California; along with many nieces and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her father and mother. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, November 11, 2021, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2212 E. Amity Ave in Nampa with a viewing from 12:00 to 12:45 PM prior to the services. Burial will follow the services at 3:00 PM, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, 15862 Indiana Ave in Caldwell. Perry Zeyer is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86923761006 Meeting ID: 869 2376 1006
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