Edna Dimaano Gan, a retired state public health scientist, died of complications from heart disease Monday at Union Memorial Hospital. The Timonium resident was 79.

Born Edna Dimaano in Zambales, Philippines, she was the daughter of Gregorio Dimaano and Concepcion Dolandolan.

She earned a pharmacy degree at the University of the Philippines in Manila.

She came to the U.S. in 1965.

She was a pharmacist and worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital. After raising a family, Mrs. Gan was an optician for Pearle Vision Centers in Towson.

In the mid-1990s she became a public health scientist in the human virology lab of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in downtown Baltimore. She retired in 2007.

Mrs. Gan was active in Baltimore's Filipino community in its Katipunan organization and helped organize annual fiestas held in Towson.

She also served on committees for the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at noon today at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 100 Church Lane, Cockeysville, where she was a member.

Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Dr. Juan G. Gan, a physician; a son, Dr. Juan J. “Nito” Gan of Wynnewood, Pa.; three daughters, Cristine Cooper of Sparks, Dr. Regina Gan-Carden of Lutherville and Geraldine “Dina” Gan of Timonium; a brother, Rodolfo Dimaano of the Philippines; a sister, Frine Dimaano of New York City; and five grandchildren.

— Jacques Kelly