Courtesy photo Barbara Rioux, Nashua native and family matriarch celebrating her 90th birthday, with her youngest great-granddaughter, Ava.

Ninety years ago, on Aug. 13, 1930, a girl was born in Nashua to Lucille and Gilbert Dumas. They named their new daughter Barbara Lucille Dumas.

Today, she is known as Barbara Rioux – the matriarch of the Rioux family of Nashua. She is blessed with wisdom, dignity, independence, and style.

With her husband Leo, who died in 2000, Barbara raised five children, and now has seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

It’s said people born under the sign of Leo are natural born leaders. They are dramatic, creative, self-confident and dominant. They are also extremely difficult to resist, able to achieve anything they want to in any area of life they commit to.

There is a specific strength to a Leo and their “king of the jungle” status. Leo often has many friends, for they are generous and loyal.

This Sun sign, self-confident and attractive, is capable of uniting different groups of people and leading them as one toward a shared cause. And their healthy sense of humor makes collaboration with other people even easier.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Barbara’s 90th birthday celebration was not what she had envisioned. But her family succeeded in celebrating this major milestone with her at a few house parties.

As we pay homage to Barbara’s 9-decade journey, it is hoped that she knows the joy, peace and health that comes with a life well lived.

–Contributed by the family of David and Linda Rioux

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