Patricia M. Wenk of Chatham died Monday at her residence following a long courageous battle of breast cancer with her family at her side . Mrs. Wenk born May 3, 1951 in Albany, N.Y. is the daughter of the late Wilfred and Ida (Cole) VanBuren. She graduated from Cologna Beauty School in Albany and then started her 45 year career as a beautician. Working in several beauty salons in the Albany area, owned and operated the Beauty Nook in Chatham for 20 years, managed Faircut in East Greenbush for 6 years and then owned and operated Faircut II in Schodack for the past 8 years. The long list of customers is where she put her heart and soul into each and every one. Her passion was her work even going through cancer treatments. Her true passion were her children. She was named Woman of the year in 1993 for her crusade to present to the State Legislation the awareness, prevention and education of lead poisoning in children which lead to the New York State's first universal lead screening law which mandated that all children under the age of 6 be tested for lead. This was due to her youngest child at the age of sixteen months who was missed diagnosed and because of her determination and perseverance took him to Mass. where he was diagnosed with severe lead poisoning. Pat's other passions included gardening, baking and decorating cakes, dancing with her husband (the jitter bug) and later line dancing with friends as well as vacationing the Maine coastline and the Jersey shore with family and friends. Patty is survived by her husband of 30 years Peter L. Wenk of Chatham, Children William C. Wenk of Elgin, Ill., Kristin M. Wenk of Chatham and Peter A.Wenk of Chatham, Sister Winnie Middleton and her husband William of Grafton, N.Y. Survived also by many Nieces and Nephews her loving Dachshunds,Charlie Hansel and Gretel. Funeral Services will be held Friday 10:00am from the First Reformed Church of Chatham with the Reverend Gary DeWitt Pastor of officiating. Interment will be in the Ghent Union Cemetery. Calling hours will be Thursday evening 4-8pm from the Wenk Funeral Home Chatham, For those who wish memorials may be made to the Chatham Central School for the Patricia M. Wenk Scholarship fund 50 Woodbridge Ave. Chatham, N.Y. 12037 or the Columbia Greene Humane Society 125 Humane Society Rd. Hudson,N.Y. 12534. For on-line condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com