Anna Madeline DeMerie, 80, of Elmont, died on Feb. 16, 2002. Wife of Frank. Mother of Nicholas (Kathleen), Palma Romanelli (Sal) and JoAnn Friedman (Howie). Grandmother of Frank, Madeline and Nicholas. Arrangements were made by the Franklin Funeral Home, Franklin Square. Funeral Mass at St. Vincent de Paul RC Church.

Dr. Florence "Skeets" N. Marshall, professor of clinical pediatrics and attending physician at NY-Presbyterian Hospital, was a women ahead of her time who was also a throwback to a simpler time - the combination of which resulted in a life that was admirable for any time. Skeets dedicated her 54-year practice of medicine to helping sick and poor children, always living up to her stated philosophy: "We should all try to leave things better than we found them." The long-time resident of West Hempstead died on Friday at the age of 80, having admirably succeeded at her stated goal.

Florence N. Marshall's commendable life began prematurely on Jan. 10, 1922. Skeets was always embarrassed by her middle name, but her parents, T. Elwood and Bertha Marshall of Kennett Square, PA, were visionaries when they named their daughter Florence Nightengale Marshall.

A graduate of the George School in 1940 and Wellesley College in 1944, Skeets always knew that she wanted to help children in need. She was one of only eight women among the 80 students accepted to the Cornell Medical School in 1944, and she had to endure the sexual bias of the age. For example, Cornell provided housing for male medical students, but not for women. Although it was unusual for a woman in the 1940s, she chose pediatrics as her specialty, and upon graduation embarked on her long, philanthropic career.

After completing an internship and residency at NY Hospital, she worked in the Pediatric Out-Patient Dept. and taught 4th year medical students. In 1955, she was a special consultant to the US Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare for health surveys on Indian reservations in Montana and South Dakota. Shortly thereafter, she and her Hempstead pediatrics partner, Dr. Robert McGovern, began a long affiliation with Hospital Albert Schweitzer in rural Haiti.

Between 1957 and 1981, Skeets spent 14 years in Haiti, working at HAS, rotating tours with her partners. The choice of Haiti was no accident; it was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. There, she served as the head of the Pediatrics Dept. of HAS, concentrating on community health, sending medical teams into the countryside, and training local health workers. During her stints practicing medicine on LI, she was no less dedicated, continuing to make house calls after most other doctors had ceased, and acting tirelessly as a public health activist.

Since 1981, Skeets practiced at NY Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, specializing in infectious diseases, working in the children's AIDS clinic, and teaching medical students. When Skeets was due to retire, her colleagues and students successfully petitioned that she be retained. She was still practicing until October, when a fatal illness disabled her.

Dr. Marshall received many awards for her dedication to others, including an American Academy of Pediatrics Recognition Award for effort and dedication in Haiti, 1957-1977; the 1987 NY Hospital-Cornell Medical Center Dept. of Pediatrics Outstanding Teacher Award; the 1988 NY Hospital Chaplsincy's Wholeness of Life Award; and a 1990 Wellesley Alumnae Achievement Award.

Surviving family include her brothers E. Marshall Palmer of Westfield, NJ, Richard M. Palmer of Wyoming, PA, and James G. Palmer of Palm Coast, FL; and many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces. Arrangements were made by Fairchild Sons Funeral Home, Garden City. Donations can be made to The Grant Foundation, FBO Hospital Albert Schweitzer, 1410 Magellan Dr. #101, Sarasota, FL 34243.