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Helen Phillips: The source of her son's success
Mom (Helen Phillips)
Carrie Bell Jones: A mom's love never ends
Once Upon A Child (Carrie Bell Jones)
The things that make a mother special
My Mother, My Mother (Helen Gallagher)
A Blueprint of a Mom
Blueprint of a Mom ( Louise Guidetti)
A poem for Mom Mom
My Mom Mom (Janet Maslow)

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Thursday 05/05/2011

Dorcas Olanrewaju: Kind and patient and a help with homework

If I were to name the World’s Best Mom, I would name my special mom, Dorcas Olanrewaju. Her favorite color is pink. I love my mom because she listens to me and she buys clothes, shoes, and other stuff for me. My mom is pretty and cool. She is kind and patient. She cooks good food for us, washes and iron my clothes.

Cathleen Kennedy: More than just a mom

When it comes to moms, everyone expects the old-fashioned mom who's waiting for you to get home from school with a fresh pie in the window. My mother, Cathleen Kennedy of Egg Harbor Township, is the exact opposite - and I wouldn't change her for the world. My mom has always been more to me than just a mom, she's my best friend. I know I can count on her when I need "mom" advice or just simply letting me know I look great before I head out for the night. She and I share more memories and laughs than I do with most of my friends. All I have to do is talk about us bringing home a mattress from BJs Wholesale Club and we're instantly cracking up. If I didn't have such a close relationship with my mom growing up, I think I would have turned out differently. She always let me be exactly who I wanted, regardless of me going through a phase or not. She never put me down. I know my mom will always be there for me when I need her, even when I have to face the fact she's not physically here. I just want to let her know I love her and I'm thankful for everything she's ever sacrificed for me. You're the best, my one and only, Momma Dukes! - Shannon Kennedy, Egg Harbor Township

Barbara Cardile: A memorable drive with mom

My mom, Barbara Cardile, of Rio Grande in Middle Township, tried to teach me how to drive. I admit that it was a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful effort. With my learner's permit, she would ride with me to school and afterwards continue on to work. Theoretically, this should have worked out, but me being a 16-year-old driver terrified my poor mother. Her anxiety only added to mine as I was suddenly responsible for navigating us down the road. She refused to drive with me and had my father take over. Being an unruly, stubborn teenager, I cannot blame her - but this is why she is special. When I got my license, I wanted to drive to Ohio with my mother for sightseeing and a family visit. She had never spent much time alone in a car with me at the helm - surely a recipe for disaster! But she gave me the benefit of the doubt as we split the driving. We ended up having a wonderful, memorable adventure that I will cherish for the rest of my life. She even admitted that I had turned out to be a decent driver - one of the best compliments I have ever received. I aspire to be like her every day. - Sara Cardile, Bear, Del.

Jane Letizia: Appreciating mom's greatest gifts

Mom, Jane Letizia, you're the one who brought us into the world, the best mom anyone could ever ask for and you're so much fun. Your smile, your laugh, your beauty and unconditional love ... warm our hearts. Mom, you're the one who held our hands the first day of school, and made sure we had our lunches packed and always sneaked a letter of love beneath the snack pack. Mom, you made sure we had everything we could ever ask for and more. Mom, your greatest gifts, we could never buy - your eye on the world and the lessons you teach keep us in love's reach. You taught us to try our hardest and to always remember that we're great. Mom, thank you for everything you do; we love you more than you'll ever know. Love Jay, Andrea, Jim and Mike - Mike Letizia, Linwood

Joan Eggermont: Still taking care of her family

My mother, Joan Eggermont, of Lower Township, is a special mother. She is 77 years old and she still takes care of us. She has five of us. We are all sick. She is still working and when she comes home, she does whatever we need. She takes us to the doctor. She takes our grandbaby, who has cerebral palsy, to the hospital in Philadelphia. No matter how much I tell you how special my mother is, no one knows but the people who live with her. We do not tell her all the time, but we do love her - we love her very much. I can tell you about my mom all day and all night. - Brandy Dennison, Lower Township

Cindy Verderber: If they could pick a mom, it would her

My mommy, Cindy Verderber, is special because she is always smiling and is friendly to everyone. Mom always helps us with our homework. She is an awesome coach for my softball team and a great supporter for my drama club. When me and my sister fight and make mom mad, she always keeps her cool and never yells at us. This year she gave us a gift of a puppy, he is perfect for us and loves her too! (She feeds him every morning). If we could pick any mommy in the world to have, it would still be our mom. She's a "funtastic" art teacher for kids and always dresses cool. She also buys us cool clothes.

Margie Montanaro: How do you spell Mother?

My mom, Margie Montanaro, of North Cape May, is the best. Growing up all my friends wished they had my mom ... as I've grown to be a mom myself I realize even more how special my Mom is and what a great job she has done.

Jean Rubens: Making a happy home full of activity

Dear Mother, Jean Rubens: It's been many years since you were called to heaven as one of God's angels, but your presence will always be felt.

Nynell Langford: A first lady who puts herself last

My mom's name is Nynell Langford, of Atlantic City. My brother and I love her so much for so many reasons. First, because she lost six babies before having me, but she never gave up hope. Then after my brother, Isaiah, was born, she gave birth to my baby sister, Mariah, who was born with a rare birth defect called Trisomy 13. My mother dedicated her life to my sister who lived to only be 4 years old. My mom had to perform CPR and rescue breathing for my sister up to five times a day. She did this until Oct. 16, 2003. Thats the saddest day I remember seeing my mom. That was the day my sister became the angel she really was. It also was five days before my 11th birthday. I remember my mom arranging my sister's funeral and planning a birthday party for me. She picked out a beautiful white casket for my sister and a huge birthday cake for me all in the same day. Only a special mom could do that. I told my mom that a party that year wasn't important but she insisted I have one. You see, my mom always pleases everyone. No matter what her situation is, she loves me and my brother so unconditionally. My mom now does a dinner for mothers who have lost children. It's called "A Time To Remember." I love her so much for that, because I see her help make sad mothers happy including herself. I help her with the event every year. So even though people may know my mom as the First Lady of Atlantic City, she always puts herself last. - Elijah Langford, Atlantic City

A tribute to a mom now gone

I am submitting an excerpt from the eulogy I wrote for my mom. She passed away on April 8th at 75 years of age

Hortense O'Donnell: Job completed. You earned your wings.

There is not enough ink and paper in the world to write all my mom did and supported me through life. She was "The lady with many hats" described best by her 23 years teaching in the Ventnor school system. My mother raised me, supported me, educated me and never stopped loving me. My best gift to her life well lived would be for all the papers, Internet and press releases to read: Hortense O'Donnell, Job completed. You earned your wings. I miss her and God bless all the mothers' of the world. - George O'Donnell, Galloway Township.

A grandmom and a mom who keeps them smiling

Our mom is technically our grandma but, we have lived with her since we were 3 1/2 and 2 years old. She gladly took us in and a couple years later she adopted us. We are now 14 and 12 and are showered with love and all the things children need. We are not rich, in fact we don't have much money at all, but mom makes us feel like the richest kid in the world. Before we came to live with our mom, everyone commented on how we always frowned. Now they comment on how much we smile and we can't stop. - Julia and Jenny Johnson, Margate

Christy McGlynn-Wimberg: A mom and a hero

Remember when you were a kid and your mom would take away one little privilege and you'd think she's the worst? Well I admit I do lose my privileges. But never do I think she's terrible. My mom, Christy McGlynn-Wimberg, is my hero. My mom gets compliments from all of her friends about how well behaved her four children are. Sometimes when I hear this I want to run up and say, "She's the greatest mom ever!" Well, she is to me. It's a lot of hard work for her to take care of us. My dad works a lot and it's usually her that drives us around everywhere. But she's done a great job on all of us. When my three brothers' fool around, she's there in an instant and settles it calmly. My mom is the greatest mom you will ever find; she's a once in a life time person. She's stringent when needed while cool and collected the rest. Once you get to you know her, she's always there for you. I wish everyone could get to know her as the mom I know her as. - Kelsey Wimberg, Northfield

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Thursday 05/05/2011

Marie Tyson Evans: Raising her kids with love and discipline

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:31 am

My mom is very special because she represents who a mother is. Our mother, Marie Tyson Evans, raised us with love and discipline at the same time. Love in caring for us and discipline in making sure we did the right things. Our mother had 11 daughters as a single mom. She worked two and sometimes three jobs to take care of us with the help of grandma and granddad. She never spoke evil against our dad who I do not remember and was not a bitter woman and gave us an attitude to be the best we can be. We never saw our mother do anything out of character as a mother or a woman. Our mother is a cancer survivor. At the age of 79 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She stills love life, children and people with no regrets of how things turned out. She is more proud of us than I think that we can express, because as long as we are healthy and in our right mind that is good enough for her. - Hope R. Gallagher, Galloway Township

Gail Nolan: Proving the power of a mom's love

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:31 am

My mom, Gail Nolan, is fabulous! As the mother of two sons and myself, she has proved time and again the power of a mom's love and presence. She lives her life gracefully, even in times of stress. We cannot always be together when we'd like - mom lives in Florida while my brothers and I live in the northeast. This distance is often troubling and has its challenges, but our hearts are always together. And when we are together - watch out! We are a force to be reckoned with. From walking the dogs and soaking up sun at the beach to strolling our favorite parks or chilling out at home, we are always happiest when we're together. Anticipation of our next phone call or visit keeps us going when we miss each other most, while memories of times we've had always brings a smile to our faces. My mom is a one-of-a-kind, beautiful, strong, and independent woman. She deserves a very happy mother's day, everyday! - Darla Lowery Poulas, Long Beach Island

A woman who accomplished much in 97 years

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:31 am

Mom graduated from college, married my dad and they raised four children. During World War II, dad was sent to the South Pacific. Mom took great care of me and my sister during the war - blackout curtains and all. After the war dad came home, they bought a house in Margate and my mom gave birth to twins. A house is just a house - but a mom can make a house a home. And so mom did. Mom painted walls, kept a beautiful garden, kept dad's financial records for his office, drove us kids everywhere, taught a religious class in church, belonged to women's clubs, knitted and sewed, went to our school plays and such, typed our school essays, kept a very clean house -she did it all. Over the years, we graduated from college, got married, got jobs and all the rest. Dad died 24 years ago, but mom kept up the house and garden and was active in knitting and quilting groups as well as church activities for another 20 years. Today mom's main activities are watching TV, playing bingo and going to meals. Her short-term memory is going and she travels in a wheelchair. But I hope she realizes she is a woman who has accomplished so much during her 97 years. - Ed Doughty, Linwood

Cathy White: Always there for her kids

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:31 am

Washington Irving once said, "A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts." This quote could not be truer. As I was growing up, my mom always told me "I can either be your parent or your friend. I cannot be both." This to me is untrue. When I was growing up, my mom, Cathy White, was always there for me through thick and thin. She was the person I went to when I needed help with homework or matters of the heart. As I have grown up, she has become more of a friend. She is someone I can confide in, and is someone I have always looked up to. If I turn out to be half the person that my mom is, I know I will have become successful in life. Mom is one of my truest friends, and I love her for that. - Kimberly White, North Cape May

Lori Belber: Making her family great

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:31 am

My mom, Lori Belber, is the best mom in the world. She is the best because she makes our family great. She has a 5 year old and me, the 12-year-old. My sister is in gymnastic and swimming lessons. My mom is busy all the time. She works at Atlanticare Monday to Friday. She gets home at 6:30 p.m. and feeds us. Then we shower and go to bed. Sister and I give her feet rubs when she has a headache. When we go on are vacations we have a tons of fun. My dad died a year and a half ago, and mom took over doing everything for us. Thank you for giving us a chance to show her how much we love her. - Marisa And Morgan Belber, Egg Harbor Township

Two sisters and an 'amazing' mom

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:31 am

My mom, Suzanne Belber, is amazing. My sister and I are very lucky. I am a 15 year old, and I play on my high school's field hockey team and I am involved with the music department, which is a lot of crazy running around. My little sister, Nicole, is 10 years old and swims and does gymnastics. (My mom) also runs our two cousins (Marisa and Morgan, ages 12 and 5) places since their mom is working. She also works for the Electric Company, but still finds the time to come to as much as she can - like swim meets, field hockey games, and countless performances. And, we always have lots of fun, even if we are working on my .... homework. My mom works really hard to let us be able to do all the fun things we do as a family. That's why my mom is the best. - Mariah Belber, Egg Harbor Township

Kimberly Payne: Teaching sports, and life lessons

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:31 am

Our mom, Kimberly Payne, has been both a mom and dad to both me and my brother. She has taught us to play sports that most moms wouldn’t know the first thing about. When she was able to afford it, she made sure my brother and I had the best of everything. She never bought anything for herself and still doesn’t. My mom says that everyone is equal and nobody in the world is better than anybody else - but I think my mom is. - Jeffrey Payne, Seaville

Barbara Braxton: Staying strong through life

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:32 am

At the age of 14 my mother, Barbara Braxton, dropped out of school. She met and married my father and went on to raise four kids. My father was the bread-winner of the house, so my mom was left to raise us. In 1991, at the age of 44, my mother got her first job at a group home working with the disabled. She stayed there until the sudden death of my father in 2002! At the age of 60, my mother went back to school to get her GED! We were very proud of her. My Mother taught me to stay strong, no matter what life brings your way. Just trust in God and He will see you through. - Crystal Fletcher, Atlantic City

Walburga Kreutzer: 'A wonderful, loving and caring mother'

Updated: May 07, 2011 - 8:32 am

My mother was born Walburga Drexler in Germany in 1931. She grew up during the Great Depression, worse in Germany than here in the states. Every Christmas her only present was a very necessary new pair of boots, and yet she couldn't wait to open her gift. During World War II, she lost a brother at the battle of Stalingrad, and was only allowed to achieve an eighth-grade education. She immigrated to the United States in 1951. She met my father, Rudolph Kreutzer, in 1952. They married in 1953. She is now the mother of five kids, 15 grandkids and one great-grandchild, with another on the way. Because of her childhood experiences, she developed tremendous character, which we all admire today. She always worked hard, learning to speak English, becoming a citizen, a professional seamstress, and bringing up five children. She has been a wonderful, loving and caring mother, who always welcomes guests into her house. She turns 80 on May 2, is very upbeat and very busy taking care of my dad. She is a true hero to all of her family. - Don Kreutzer, Galloway Township