The coronavirus pandemic has caused hardships throughout the world, but few families have been as affected by the crisis like brothers Jose Mercado and Carlos Suarez.

They say their 73-year-old mother, an NYPD sergeant from Parkchester, was full of life before she passed away due to COVID-19. The Turn to Tara team received an update late Wednesday afternoon that their father has also passed away due to the virus.

“It's a lot to deal with mentally. But when we were kids, she was always there to hold us. We weren't there at the end. That alone is driving us insane,” says Mercado.

GoFundMe: Memorial Fund for our Beloved Blanca Suarez

The brothers have also lost their sister and uncle to the virus. Currently, there are nine other relatives battling the virus.  

“It's a lot for us to handle right now,” said Mercado.

The brothers were laid off in March and could barely afford to bury their mother. They say a GoFundMe account helped pay for the service.

It’s a story painfully familiar in a state where the average cost of a funeral is around $9,200. The Turn to Tara team found that there is burial assistance available for families in need.

MORE:Got a problem? You should Turn to Tara. Here's how.