Christine Wertz "Chris" Patane

Christine B. Wertz Patane passed away in her home on Thursday Dec. 4, 2025 at the age of 76 after a long struggle fighting stage four lung cancer.

She is survived by her husband John William Patane, her brother Will Wertz, her sister Joanne Wertz, her sister-in-law Carmen Cota-Wertz, her nephews and nieces, Carlos Cota-Wertz, Ardena Cota, Fernando Cota Wertz, Cassie Cota-Wertz, Barbara Jannah, Shekar Jannah, Bob Patane, Patti Keith, Dean Keith, great nephews and nieces, Gabriel Cota-Wertz, Callie Cota-Wertz, Julian Cota-Wertz, Logan Cota-Wertz, Branden Jannah, Nicole Jannah, Patrick Patane, Trevor Jannah, Hunter Keith, Bradley Keith, Jonathan Patane and, cousins Jackie Kramer (and daughters) and Cindi Falker and by her beloved cat, Missy. She is also survived by her good friends and neighbors, Cindi O'Connor and Jim and Joyce Beavers, who have stood by her and helped her in her need.

Chris grew up in New Jersey where she attended West Morris Regional High School. She graduated from Centenary College and gained her masters degree in Marketing Research from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She worked in a number of large companies such as Warner Lambert, Tampax and Nestles as a marketing research analyst.

She and her husband moved to Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, VA from Southampton, Long Island, New York in the 1990s. They were active at Resurrection Roman Catholic Church. In Moneta, she participated every year in the fall craft bazaar at Resurrection Catholic Church. As a member of the Secret Ministry she was a Counter of donations after Mass for years. She did volunteer work for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's Thanks & Giving campaign. Chris also volunteered for the International Scleroderma Network (ISN) for a period of time when our sister, Joanne, served on the Board of Directors. The ISN mission was to provide stellar research, support, education, and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses. The site at sclero.org (now retired) featured over 2,000 web pages in 22 languages. Chris maintained records of donations and distribution lists for the Voices of Scleroderma book series.

Chris was a loving, generous, strong woman who provided for her husband and family even when she herself was the one who was in need. She was the bedrock of her family. When conventional cancer treatments failed, she participated in a cancer treatment clinical trial for several months. Although the trial failed to help her, by participating she hoped that it would help others.

A memorial celebration of her life will be held at the Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service located at 1140 West Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike, Route 460 West, Bedford, VA 4523 on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m. She will be buried at Resurrection Roman Catholic Church at 15353 Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA 24121 at 3:15 p.m. A reception will follow at 44 Halls Lane, Moneta, Va.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Arrangements are being handled by Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.