Irene Houston

Irene Agnes Houston, 86 of Waldwick, passed away peacefully, on March 12. Irene, aka, Honey, Mom or Nana, protector of all things Houston, was an esteemed graduate of Conshohocken U.



Originally from the south side of Bethlehem, PA, in 1956, after disregarding the pleas of her beloved father, Cyril, she married a boy from up on the hill (Lehigh University), her husband of nearly 65 years, Richard Glenn Houston. Always together, they embarked on a life wherein Irene became the human embodiment of the vow “to have and to hold…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish….” She was a shining example of a dedicated, tireless wife, mother, and perhaps most importantly, grandmother.



Mothering was her true calling though, and nobody worked harder for the benefit of her three boys, Glenn, Kevin and Matthew. Blessed with an innate tough-mindedness, passion and guile, she commanded the house full of testosterone. Fiercely loyal and always feisty, all who knew her, respected and loved her. Thankfully, her boys and her grandchildren absorbed the gifts of her example.



If that wasn’t enough, in 1972, seeing the expense of college on the horizon, she re-entered the work force as a dental assistant, a previous passion. Like anything else in her life, she put everything she had into her profession. All in all, she worked so hard, both in the office and at home, she wore out her body, but her love and spirt continue with her progeny.



Irene loved sports, especially the Mets and UCONN Women’s Basketball, but she also devoured US Presidential and British history. Casinos were a late developing, but well earned, vice. So much so, she became known lovingly across many local casinos as, “Slot Machine Irene.”



Irene is survived her immediate family. Viewing will occur at the Feeney Funeral Home, Ridgewood, NJ, 9am -11am on Tuesday, March 16, with burial to follow immediately thereafter at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY. Flowers are fine, but the family thinks you should all just raise her favorite drink, a margarita (with salt, of course), and toast this wonderful person.