Barbara Sydell Liss, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 19th, in Wilmington, North Carolina, surrounded by family. She was a long-time resident of Middletown, NY, and Miami Beach and Aventura, FL. More recently she lived in Las Vegas, NV, Santa Monica, CA, and Wilmington, NC.
She was born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1933, the first of four children of Helen and Sam Granowsky. The family moved to Upstate New York, and Barbara graduated from High School in Poughkeepsie before getting her Associate’s Degree from SUNY at Farmingdale, where she studied dental health. Her several careers spanned more than 50 years. She was a long-time Dental Health Teacher in the Minisink Valley School System, and generations of children, who would not have had access to dental care, owe their smiles to Barbara’s advocacy and caring diligence. She later opened a boutique clothing store in Middletown with her husband, “The Caravan,” where she found a true passion in dressing women of all ages for success and more importantly gave life changing advice on personal improvement and matters of the heart.
After retiring to Florida, she had a third act, again teaming with her husband as real estate agents.
Barbara met the love of her life, Martin “Marty” Liss at a local dance at age 19, and they wed a year later, commencing a life together that would last nearly 65 years. Marty was the “Lighthouse in the Storm” to Barbara’s “Force of Nature” and together they travelled the world, visiting five continents and touring the USA and Canada in their motor home with Barbara’s beloved Cocker Spaniel Scooby. Barbara favored bright colors and vibrancy, and had a shrewd eye for fashion and bargains. Her first love was her family and friends and that extended to her nieces, nephews, children, grandchildren and their friends, and friends who became family. Barbara was forever opening her home and her heart to anyone who needed a friendly smile, a warm embrace, a little advice or a place to stay. Her love of family was followed by her love of dogs and all animals. Before moving from Las Vegas, she fulfilled a long-time dream to volunteer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.
Barbara is survived by her cherished children, Linda-Liss Bronstein (Andrew Bronstein) of Leland, NC, Debra Liss of Santa Monica, CA, and Jonathan Liss (Chad Smith) of Los Angeles, adored grandchildren Jacob Bronstein (Michelle Yee) of New Orleans and Madeline Bronstein (W. Spencer Denham) of New York City, a delightful great-granddaughter Emma Claire Yee-Bronstein, her beloved brother Alvin Granowsky of Dallas and sister Ricki Soletti of Austin, TX, along with their children and grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her parents, husband, and brother Steven Granson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, January 21, at Wilmington Funeral Chapel, 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC. Burial will be at the Temple of Israel Cemetery.
Shiva will be held at the home of her daughter, Linda Liss-Bronstein, Tuesday January 21st from 6-8 PM and Wednesday, January 22nd from 2-8 PM.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Utah (https://support.bestfriends.org/site/TR/Events/General?px=1506068&pg=personal&fr_id=1480).
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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-9099
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