WORCESTER, Mass. — A family in Worcester, Massachusetts is mourning the deaths of a father and son who died from complications of COVID-19 at the same time.

William Parretti, 83, and his son, Robert Parretti, 57, who were both veterans, lived together.

"Everything happened pretty fast; it was pretty surreal. He was the healthiest 83-year-old I knew," said John Parretti, who lost his relatives; William Parretti was his grandfather and Robert Parretti, his uncle.

The father and son died just two days apart.

Easter Sunday, William Parretti began experiencing coronavirus symptoms.

Both father and son ended up at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, both struggling to stay alive and just one floor apart.

“They were both on the (ventilator) at the same time," said John Parretti.

Robert Parretti called his only son Zach Parretti, and William Parretti called his grandson.

"He would say hello to my mother and my grandmother for us, and they would be there waiting," said John Parretti.

The father and son are part of a proud military family and both served our country.

“He was in the Army as well as his four brothers. They all served in the military,” said John Parretti about his grandfather.

Robert Parretti spent his early 20s in the Air Force as an airlift maintenance specialist on C-130s.

“He was stationed in Hawaii, Arizona," said John Parretti.

The family said goodbye through phone calls.

“Dr. Rakhi not only stayed and prayed with our grandfather during his last rights, also with her personal cellphone, made sure we could say our final goodbyes to him,” said Parretti.

He said it’s the memories that would keep them strong.

“He had a love for Celine Dion,” said Parretti.

The father and son were buried on the same day.

Parretti said there were so many people who wanted to be there. However they were turned away, because of the pandemic -- another sad reality of the coronavirus outbreak.