SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) – Barbara Rivera, who was born into a politically prominent Irish-American family and became a powerful advocate for the city’s Hispanic community, has died. She was 69.

Rivera died Thursday at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where she had been treated for heart disease.

For the last 31 years, Rivera had served as director of the New North Citizens Council.

“She was just an outstanding woman, a towering figure who, in my opinion, devoted her life and energies to other people,” said Mayor Charles V. Ryan. “She had great courage, great fortitude. Her life’s work was to make things better for the people whom she served. This is a tremendous loss to all of us in Springfield.”

Juan Gerena, director of the Springfield Commission on Community Development and former director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, said Rivera had been the standard bearer for the city’s Hispanic community for nearly a half-century.

“By an accident of birth she was not born Puerto Rican, but she has done more for Puerto Ricans than anyone else that I know of,” Gerena said.

Rivera, who was married more than 40 years to Evaristo “Pancho” Rivera, was born Barbara Coakley in neighboring Chicopee. Her uncle was a state representative and her grandfather served as Chicopee mayor.

She said she became politically active when at age 19 she had to seek welfare assistance and believed the state agency displayed favoritism.

Rivera is survived by her husband and five children, including state Rep. Cheryl Rivera, D-Springfield.

A funeral Mass will be offered Monday at Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield followed by burial in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Chicopee.