of Mission Viejo, CA
October 13, 1936 - January 29, 2024
Irene Hewitt Westerman, 87, of Mission Viejo, CA, passed away on January 29, 2024, in Santa Ana, CA. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland on October 13, 1936, to Robert and Christina (Gallacher) Hewitt. Irene was of the Presbyterian faith.
Irene sailed to the United States, aboard the Britannic on September 19, 1958. She sailed by herself at the age of 21 where she had a job waiting on her as a nanny in New York. She also worked for a family in Florida before making her way to California. Irene was a true California girl! She originally came to Inglewood, and worked as a secretary before she met the love of her life, Webster Westerman. They shared their life together for 40 years before his death. After they married, she moved to Anaheim where they watched the fireworks at Disneyland from their back porch every night. They eventually built a home in Lake Forrest. Irene was the queen of 5-star hospitality. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome. Irene loved to cook and entertain.
Irene enjoyed gardening, tennis, golf, bowling, ceramics, knitting and shuffleboard. She truly had a heart for children. She loved babies, her children, and grandchildren. Irene was always ready to babysit, she taught all her babies how to golf, play tennis and swim.
In her later years of life she moved to a retirement community, Casta del Sol. There she enjoyed life to the fullest with her friends and neighbors. Irene has left her loving mark on her family. She will truly be missed but her memory will go on forever.
Preceding her in death were her parents, husband; son, Charles ''Steve'' Westerman; brother, Douglas MacDonald Christie.
Those left to cherish her memory are son, Reed (Tisha)Westerman; daughter, Audra Lynn Sauk; grandchildren, Alexis (Connor) Kinsey, Andrew Sauk, Krista, Kylee and Kurt Westerman, Carol and Douglas Lewis; and one great grandchild, August Kinsey; niece, Michelle Macdonald Aspenwall; and a host of lifelong friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held on March 22, 2024, at 2:00 pm, at Casta del Sol in Mission Viejo, CA.
An interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery, Weiner, AR., in July 2024.
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7 Condolence(s)
Andrew Sauk
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Best grandma I could of ever had in my lifetime.You always used to “what am I gonna do without you” when i moved now I dont know what to do now that your gone. I think about you everyday and I will continue to till we meet again in heaven. Thank you for sacrificing so much for me when you didnt need to. I love you endlessly grandma
Fiona Rush
Friday, March 22, 2024
So sorry you’ve gone, but left lots of love and wonderful stories. You looked after my mum “ your wee cousin Elison” when she was just born. She always loved you coming to visit back home as we all did. I even made it over to yours. Yes you were, Definitely the “hostess with the most’est” with your margarita’s. Cheers to you.
Michelle MacDonald Aspinwall
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Beloved Aunt, Great Aunt and Great Great Aunty Ween to myself and my family over in the UK. We were all so lucky to have her in our lives and cherish the very many happy memories she left behind.
RIP Auntie Irene
Michael Sauk
Thursday, March 14, 2024
I had known Irene for more than 30 years. She had a very good heart, and was loved by many. Most recently, she took excellent care of her grandson, Andrew after he graduated from high school. Irene deserves a very high spot in heaven for everything that she had done In her life for family and friends.
Reed & Tisha Westerman
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Irene was a great homemaker and took such good care of my Dad until he passed in 2011. I am thankful to her for that. She treated me and my family like we were her own. For the last 41 years she had shown us such love and hospitality when we came to California to visit. My kids used to call her Grandma “ Oye” because that is what she said to them when they were babies, That must have been Scottish for “Hey or Hi”. It is with great sorrow that we pay our last respects to her as she was so much a part of our life, and she will be greatly missed.
Love and miss you Irene!
Lisa Lee
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Irene was there for a big part of my childhood. She wasn’t just family, she also helped raise me. She was very close friends with my mom and my Mimi. I spent a lot of time at her house playing with Audra, making up dance moves, watching fireworks, running to the ice cream truck, walking to Whitefront, playing at the local park and going out to pizza. My home away from home. Irene hosted most of our family Thanksgivings through the years. She also made the best eggs rolls. So many good memories. You will be missed.
Cara Toy