99-year-old leads life of adventure and happiness

The Douglas County Community and Senior Center celebrated birthdays for the month of April on Wednesday and among them was Gardnerville resident Hazel Boulay.

Her friends and the caregivers at the community center call her “feisty,” “a firecracker,” and that she never lets the grass grow beneath her feet. 

Boulay was born April 16, 1923, in Alta, Iowa. 

Since she was a little girl living on her parent’s farm she sought adventure, and that’s how she spent her life. 

At age 5, she learned to dance the Waltz, while standing on her father’s feet. By her 70s, she had taught ballroom dancing, the Mambo, the Cha-Cha, tap dancing and Hula dancing. 

“I love to dance and move,” said Boulay. “You can’t expect too much out of life by just sitting, it’s more fun to move around.”

Boulay attends the Community Center exercise programs, including yoga, dance and weight classes. 

“I’m just eager to get out and keep going,” she said. 

Boulay has witnessed a lot in 99 years from improvements in technology, several wars and other world advancements, including some setbacks, but she doesn’t’ dwell too much on the negatives throughout her life; just always the positive and the things that brought her joy.

“I’ve always loved adventure and exciting things,” said Boulay. “If you’re not moving around, you’re not happy.”

She loves to travel and has parasailed in Mexico and zipped lined in Australia. She’s visited New Zealand and Europe, twice. 

One thing that does stick out to her is World War II, which two of her brothers served as Navy men during.

“It was a very trying time,” she said. “Two of my brothers had spent 3 years in a prison camp during the war and we didn’t know whether they were alive for about a year. Thankfully all my brothers came home.”

While reminiscing of her life at the Community Center Wednesday, Boulay enjoyed focusing on the happy and adventurous times she had, which only proved the statements her friends used to describe her. 

Boulay has led 99 years as “feisty” and a “firecracker” who never let anything get in her way of living her best life.