Ann Schecter (née Saunders) was born in London, England, on January 19, 1908. Her father was killed in the battle of Jutland when she was nine years of age, and the family's economic circumstances thereafter were difficult. Her mother intended that she enter the trade of Millinery, but she was determined to enter the Nursing profession. She began her studies in London and completed them at Bellevue Hospital School of Nursing in New York when she sailed to join her mother who had emigrated to New York.

Ann loved the profession of Nursing and devoted herself completely to it. She was initially very interested in Psychiatric Nursing and worked at the Manhattan State hospital on Governors Island in New York.

During World War II, she volunteered for the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the Army Nursing Corps. She fondly remembered marching onto the troop transport ship with her fellow nurses to the tune of "Pistol Packing Mama" played by an Army band. She participated in the Normandy invasion, was caught with her hospital behind German lines during the Battle of the Bulge, and completed her combat service in Aachen, Germany. She directed the unit treating maxillofacial trauma and corresponded with some of her patients with severe injuries for decades after the war.

Following military service, she became a head nurse at Queens General Hospital in New York. She married Benjamin Schecter at the age of 39. They had a long and happy marriage and raised two sons. She was a loving mother and wife. Her life was characterized by duty, loyalty, respect for education and a resolute quiet strength. She died on August 9, 1997 at the age 89.