This link provides short summaries of the accomplishments of 10 female scientists that died in 2013. I had not heard of almost any of them before, but they were in charge of some scientific breakthroughs. For example, Brigitte Askonas studied T-lymphocytes' role in viral infections, Ruth Benerito invented easy-care cotton fabric that wouldn't wrinkle (it was said she saved the cotton industry), Yvonne Brill helped discover how thrust can keep satellites in their orbits, and Janet Rowley discovered how cancer can have a genetic basis due to chromosomal slip-ups.
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2013/12/30/gone-in-2013-a-tribute-to-10-remarkable-women-in-science/
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2013/12/30/gone-in-2013-a-tribute-to-10-remarkable-women-in-science/