Sr. Barbara Ann Rioux, OP

Dominican Sister of Peace Barbara Ann Rioux, OP (97), a native of Fall River, Massachusetts, died on September 19, 2025, at Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, Kentucky.  Sr.Barbara is survived by one sister, Sr. Nancy Rioux (St. Catharine, KY).

A Dominican for 73 years, Sr. Barbara earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education/Social Science from Catherine Spalding College (Louisville, KY) and a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Spalding College (Louisville, KY).  She ministered as a teacher at SS Simon and Jude (Louisville, KY); Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Campbellsville, KY); St. Mel (Gloucester, MA); Our Lady of Lourdes (Queens Village, NY); and St. Dominic School for Boys (Memphis, TN).  Sister also served as principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary (Louisville, KY).  Sr. Barbara ministered as religion coordinator/teacher at Dominican Academy (Plainville, MA) and Resurrection School (Brooklyn, NY).  She spent several years as the coordinator at Sansbury Care Center (St. Catharine, KY); and later as coordinator at Guzman Hall (Plainville, MA).  Later, Sister was a case worker at King Philip Elder Service (Foxborough, MA); Health and Social Services Consortium (Wrentham, MA); and Bristol Elder Services (Fall River, MA).  In 2001, Sr. Barbara was an outreach minister at St. Brigid/St. James Parishes (Louisville, KY).   In 2010, Sr. Barbara moved to St. Catharine Motherhouse (St. Catharine, KY), where she provided community service.

In 2021, Sr. Barbara moved to Sansbury Care Center (St. Catharine, KY), where she began a ministry of prayer and presence. 

Arrangements are handled by Hale – Polin – Robinson Funeral Home in Springfield, Kentucky. The cremains visitation begins at 3pm, Wednesday, October 1st, at the Sansbury Care Center Chapel. The funeral will be held at 10:30am, Thursday, October 2, at Sansbury Care Center Chapel.  Burial will be in the St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery. 

Memorial gifts in Sr. Barbara’s memory may be sent to Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr., Columbus, OH 43219-2098. To make a secure online donation or to view a full obituary, please visit www.oppeace.org.