CNJ+ May 2026

I Remember Mom: MOM’S LAST BATCH OF OATMEAL COOKIES By Richard Mabey Jr.

In early September of 2019, my late mother (Jan et Kemmerer Mabey) asked me to help her bake some oatmeal cookies. I was rath er honored. My mom was an incredible baker. For many years, Mom served as the Bakery Manager at the A&P in Boonton, before she married my father. And, while my dad was stationed at Hickam Air Field, during World Wat II, Mom sent oat meal cookies to Dad, every week. Dad’s brother Earl, lived across the street from the Kemmerer Homestead, with his lovely bride, Eleanor. It was Aunt Eleanor who en couraged Mom to send cook ies to her shy and homesick brother-in-law, stationed in Hawaii. The tie of oatmeal cookies was a connection that Mom and Dad had all throughout their marriage. You see, Mom would bake several batches of oatmeal cookies every week. When she packed Dad’s lunch for work, the night before, Mom would always include three oatmeal cookies in his paper sack. It was a most strange and bewildering thing for me, as Mom and I baked oatmeal cookies, that fateful day in early September of 2019. As Mom was mixing the dough, with her electric mixer, she whispered to me that Dad was going to love these cookies when he came home from work. It was a moment. Just an odd moment. Within a few seconds, Mom looked

up to me as simply said, “I know your dad is in Heaven. I just had a moment.” I told Mom that I under stood. A solemn quiet fell between us. A couple of weeks later, in mid September, Mom had terrible chest pains. My sis ter called the ambulance. Within a very short time, Mom was in the hospital. Sadly, the doctors told us Mom definitely needed to have her Aortic Valve re placed. On the nineteenth of No vember, Mom had surgery and had her Aortic Valve replaced. Sadly, the surgery was not a complete success, and Mom went Home to be with the Lord on the night of the twenty-third of Decem ber. Life is painfully short. This Christmas will mark six years since Mom passed away. I miss her very much. In all so many ways, love is the most powerful force in the universe. Looking back, I wonder if Mom knew her time left upon this earth was short, that fateful day when Mom and I made oatmeal cookies for the very last time. I wonder if she deeply knew that soon she would be with Dad once again. Richard Mabey Jr. is a free lance writer. He has recently had two books published. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard may be contacted at rich ardmabeyjr@gmail.com.

My mom (Janet Kemmerer Mabey) and I baking oatmeal cookies.

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