What happened?

My MIL has had 2 sons die (one was 32, one was 16). After their deaths, we (meaning the family, friends, etc.) have never heard about them again. No death notices can be located or obituaries posted. Both of them died in hospitals at different times (different hospitals, different states). I’m assuming they were both cremated but I’ve never seen any remains, urns, etc.

I guess my question is, is this normal? She’s a strange woman and values her privacy but even the deceased brothers’ siblings don’t know what happened. The only information we have ever received was her one statement account “XYZ has passed away.” We do not know cause of deaths or any other information about their bodies or belongings.

I asked my husband why his mom has done this not once but twice. He does not know. He said she probably didn’t host any funerals because she’s stingy with money but he doesn’t have an answer for anything else.

EDIT - I don’t think it’s privacy related because she had gofundmes set up less than 24 hours after death. But my questions are what happened to them? Where did their bodies end up? Where are their ashes? Why couldn’t we even have an immediate family memorial? Why can’t we talk about them? She posts on Facebook all the time about “missing them” but where are they? Also neither one was suicide, I’m 100% certain of that.

EDIT #2 - the 16 year was adopted but his bio family was deported when he was born. As far as I know he has not had contact with them ever.