Jane Louise Symens

March 29, 1937-April 25, 2019

Longtime Anchor Point resident, Mrs. Jane Louise Symens, 82, died Thursday, April 25, 2019, at South Peninsula Hospital Long Term Care in Homer.

Jane was buried 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at The Anchor Point Cemetery in Anchor Point. Pallbearers included Mathew, Andy, David, Conner, Jimmy and Syed.

A memorial service will be at 4:30 p.m., May 14, 2019, at Chapman School in Anchor Point.

Mrs. Symens was born March 29, 1937, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She was a graduate of Decanter High School in Illinois. She received her bachelor’s degree in library science from Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas. In 1975 she moved to Alaska, living in Anchor Point. She worked as a librarian for corporations and schools in Free Port Long Island, New York; Portland, Oregon, and at Chapman School in Anchor Point from 1975 till the late 1990s. She also was a free-lance writer for the Homer News in the “Anchor Point News” section.” In the early 2000s, she moved to Homer, living in the Kachemak Way Assisted Living for many years before moving to Long Term Care at South Peninsula Hospital. Jane loved reading, researching for children’s crafts fun, and was a computer gamer.

The family wrote, “Jane Louise Gage Symens born to Daniel James Gage and Jane Elinor Jones Gage and was the oldest of three girls. She continued her love for books and libraries all the time she lived in Alaska. She wrote a column for the local Homer News papers in the Anchor Point News section and while in Long Term Care she helped with the newsletter at South Peninsula Hospital. Jane was said to be the greatest listener and a person to always look on the bright side of life. She had a categorical mind remembering articles written readily relating to conversations — always a librarian. Many people whom have grown up in Anchor Point will always remember Jane the Chapman School Librarian.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; nephew, Mark Roderick; sister in-law, Carolyn Roderick, and former husband, Gerald Symens.

She is survived by her sisters, Mary Gage Gray of Portland, Oregon, and Beth Gage of Ashville, North Carolona; step-son, Jeffrey Symens of Albany, Oregon; nieces, Martha Roderick of Anchor Point, Elizabeth Roderick of Anchor Point, Rachel Bice of Anchor Point, and Sara Roderick of Anchor Point; nephews, Jayme Symens of Anchorage, Jeremy Symens of Henderson, Nevada, Jarid Symens of Anchorage, Andrew Roderick of Anchor Point, Mathew Roderick of Anchor Point and David Roderick of Anchor Point; brothers in-law, Paul Roderick of Anchor Point and John Symens of Anchor Point; and sister in-law, Becky Symens of Henderson, Nevada.

Memorial donations or condolences may be sent C/O Martha Roderick, 2225 Aspen Lane, Homer, Alaska 99603.

Arrangements made by Homer Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Please visit or sign her online guestbook at AlaskanFuneral.com.