Filomena Caterina Spina Marshall

Filomena’s parents, Salvatore Spina and Carmela Mendicino, came from Italy and settled in Monongahela, outside of Pittsburgh, PA. After high school, she headed off to nursing school at Shadyside Hospital, where she met many of her lifelong friends and ultimately her future husband, Bernard Marshall.

She would share how in nursing school (1947 to 1950), her claim to fame was living on the floor above Jonas Salk’s Monkeys. He was at Pitt developing the Polio vaccine.

In 1950, upon graduating nursing school, she mostly worked in the operating room and eventually headed off to Anesthesia School in Harrisburg, to become a Nurse Anesthetist. In the operating room she had the opportunity to work alongside many pioneers who performed surgeries using novel techniques or inventions; Dr. Hufnagel who developed the artificial health valve and Dr. Marshall and Marchetti who developed a technique commonly used in female bladder surgeries.

She worked in Pittsburgh, DC, then made her way out west when her husband, who was in the Navy, transferred to California. Orange County, California became her home.

For those who know her well, you’ll remember these were a few of her favorite things: Margaritas, Sees candy, Avila’s Mexican food, Dairy Queen on cone, nice shoes and clothes with matching accessories and, on occasion her middle finger.

Filomena is survived by her daughter, Dr. Lori C. Marshall and a grand dog Bruno. She has many amazing nieces, nephews, and family, with whom her life had touched, and she adored!

Her beautiful life story, including all the special people in it, will be shared at an upcoming celebration of life will be held on Sunday September 17, 2023 at the Lake Forest Beach & Tennis Club 22921 Ridge Route Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630