Elio's parents died before the events of the story, which leads to Elio living with his aunt Olga, a major in the United States military. The specific cause of their death is not explicitly stated, though some speculate it might have been a car crash or some other tragic event. The death of his parents deeply affects Elio and is part of his motivation and emotional background in the story. His aunt Olga gave up her dreams of being an astronaut to raise him after their death.