Mother’s Macaroons Bakery, an institution in North Arlington for 28 years, will close on Friday.

Owner Kay LoMedico decided to hang up her apron this week after a trying year in which her husband — who owned the Sunoco gas station nearby — passed away and three longtime employees left the shop.

“It was a series of things, and it hit me like a bag of rocks,” LoMedico told ARLnow.com today from her bakery at 2442 N. Harrison Street, across from the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center. “When I opened this bakery I was in my 30s. Now with the stress of the bakery and owning the Sunoco, I sort of fell out of love with it.”

The bakery, which serves all kinds of cookies, brownies and sweets as well as coffee, juices, breakfast and lunch, was sold 10 years ago when LoMedico’s mother died. Two weeks later, she regretted the decision, and six months after that she was able to buy it back and reopen.

Through almost three decades of keeping her customer base plied with sugary goods, LoMedico said she will miss the community and independence the most.

“My favorite part was I was able to make what I wanted,” she said. “I’m going to really miss the community. They have been wonderful for me all these years and helped me to grow.”

Although the bakery is closing, LoMedico said she’s not sure what she wants to do next, and it may not be goodbye for good.

“I’m going out with my name and my recipes,” she said. “Who knows, I may be back.”