General Information

Full Name: Barbara A. Reiss
Date of Death: Monday, August 28, 2023

Barbara Newhouse Reiss of Wayne, NJ passed away peacefully, after a brief illness, on August 28, 2023.
Barbara was born to Dorothy and Nahman Newhouse in Springfield, Massachusetts and movedto Queens, NY and later to West Orange, NJ where she grew up with her sister Lynne Newhouse Segal. Barbara graduated from West Orange High School and Syracuse University where she made life-long friends. Her selflessness and love of children led her to pursue a career in early education. Her first teaching position was in South Plainfield, NJ molding the lives of kindergarteners.
Barbara met Harold M. Reiss at the Concord Hotel in the Catskills and were married for over 50 years. During this time they had two beloved children, Lori and Jonathan who were the lights of her life taking every opportunity to nurture and enrich their lives. While raising her children Barbara returned to her love of teaching becoming a preschool teacher at the YM-YWHA of North Jersey, in Wayne, N.J for more than 20 years.
Over the years Barbara was very involved in her community holding multiple positions at her Synagogue, Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne, NJ including designing and leading programs for the senior community. In recognition of her service, Barbara was awarded the George Rafe Service Award for her continued and ongoing service and devotion to the Synagogue. One her proudest achievements was celebrating her adult Bat Mitzvah at the Synagogue. Barbara loved holidays and family; she was happiest in the kitchen cooking meals for each occasion. Barbara was warm and welcoming, always offering a seat at the holiday dinner table so others would not be alone. Barbara was famous for always bringing mandelbread or raspberry squares to any gathering.
Barbara loved being around people and looked forward to visiting her sister and family in California and spending time in Florida. Barbara looked forward to lunches and dinners with family and friends, her weekly canasta and mahjong games and pilates classes. Barbara will be forever remembered for her strength, selflessness, love and warm spirit by her family, Harold, Lori and Jonathan Reiss (predeceased by Michelle A. Reiss) and Lynne Newhouse Segal; In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Beth Tikvah in Wayne, NJ and Center for Hope in Scotch Plains, NJ.