Margaret Archer, the chief anesthetist at Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago and a vocal death penalty opponent who regularly visited Illinois Death Row inmates, died June 11 of respiratory arrest in South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest. A longtime resident of Country Club Hills, she was 52. A graduate of Morgan Park High School on Chicago’s South Side, Mrs. Archer began her nursing career in California. After returning to Chicago, she received her registered nurse anesthetist certification through a Ravenswood Hospital program and began work as a nurse anesthetist at Roseland in 1987. She was later promoted to chief of the department, where she worked until her death. Colleagues described her as a caring person who was always willing to help fellow nurses and patients. She recently began visiting women on Death Row at Dwight Correctional Center to offer her support. “She was a truly compassionate woman,” said her husband, Clarence Archer. “She enjoyed helping the women down there and getting to know them.” In addition to her husband, Mrs. Archer is survived by two sons, Roshaun and Glen; two daughters, Ramina and Tiila; and a granddaughter. Visitation will be at 6 p.m. Thursday followed by a 7 p.m. funeral service at Kersey, McGowan & Morsell Funeral Home, 3515 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago.c
