Moms are different, and if it was my mom to be prepared, I would eliminate the generator altogether.

See if you can provide her with other means of lighting sources. For emergency short term, use light sticks (plus flashlights of course). For longer term, buy her a couple of solar lights ( the ones used in gardens ..etc. ) She can put them at the window in the day, and re-position them at night.

Cooking, I would buy her small gas stove, plus several bags of wood/coal for the fire pit you mentioned.