Barbara Sydell Liss

October 3, 1933 - January 19, 2020
Barbara Sydell Liss

Memorial Gifts & Donations




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).

Share memories and condolences with the family by clicking on the “Condolence” tab.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-9099


Purchase Flowers

Tribute Wall

Please feel free to sign the guestbook or share a memory



Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


  • January 21, 2020
    Sophia (Pizza) Long says:
    Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. Heartfelt thoughts and prayers for Barbara and family. Sincerely, The Pizza sisters Debbie, Roseanne, and Sophia

  • January 21, 2020
    Wendy Chase says:
    Dear Linda and Family, My condolences to you and your entire family. Your mom, Barbara was bigger than life itself. She showed and shared compassion for everyone and everything. Her wisdom and caring holds a dear place in my heart. When you took your parents on a 50th Anniversary cruise, she would not leave Scooby in my care without first buying him a chicken, so he would feel like he was home! Such a wonderful lady. With all my love, Barbara RIP.

  • January 21, 2020
    Susan Sullivan says:
    What a beautiful tribute to Barbara. I loved how you described your parents as a lighthouse in the storm and a force of nature. I will miss seeing them at special occasions and hearing stories of their travels. My thoughts and love to all of you.

  • January 21, 2020
    Carol Gilberty-Rimondi says:
    Dear Linda and family, I am so sorry for the loss of your mom. What a wonderful life she had and she was blessed with a loving family. She is with your dad now and they are exploring the secrets of life.

  • January 21, 2020
    Cousin Marilyn says:
    We send all our love to you on the loss of your beautiful mother. Barbara brought a vitality into any room she entered and it was a joy to know her and see her at family simchas. The love she showered on the Liss and Bronstein families will always be sweetening the air each time you gather to celebrate throughout your lives as a family and I hope will comfort you all in these difficult days ahead. It has been an honor to be among those whom she embraced with this love and I will always remember her with love.