Bella Weiss was born on December 29, 1896, in Michalovce, Hungary. She traveled from Bremen, Germany to New York City in December 1926, a voyage lasting eight days. She was joining her husband Martin Weiss at their home at 491 E. 140th Street in New York City. Bella was described as 5'4" tall, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
In 1930 the couple were still living on 140th Street, where Martin worked as a newsstand salesman. Martin had also been born in Hungary, and his parents were Herman and Raisl Weiss.
Martin died of bronchopneumonia on December 20, 1939, and was buried at the Mount Judah Cemetery.
By 1940 Bella was living as "guest" (renter) at 2166 Broadway, then known as "Manhattan Towers", now known as "the Opera", on New York City's upper west side. She was employed as a "forelady" in the business of "ladies underwear."
Bella Weiss died on August 4, 1981, at New York City Health and Hospitals/ Elmhurst. She was buried October 1, 1981 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; NY, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957; 1930 and 1940 U.S. Federal Censuses; NY, NY, U.S., Index to Death Certificates, 1862-1948.