A couple with ties to the Capital Region died while vacationing in Mexico early November. Their deaths are being blamed on a carbon monoxide leak in their Airbnb in San Miguel de Allende — a city in central Mexico.

The trip was originally supposed to be an 11 day vacation.

For Jennifer Winders, coming to terms with the death of her father and his longtime partner is complicated.

“I think the shock in itself was a little hard to grasp at first,” said Winders.

And grief is only the beginning.

“We’re going to work on going back down there, getting their ashes, and bringing them back to the States,” said Winders.

She already visited Mexico to speak with local police.

Ed Winders and Barbara Moller were found dead the weekend of November 16. Mexican authorities are still investigating, but family members say carbon monoxide from a heater caused their deaths.

“They really had all these plans ahead of them and were just there on vacation,” Winders said.

For the Capital Region native, now living in California, their deaths present a series of legal and financial challenges.

“The city has their bodies and has to hold them for a little bit longer until they’re done investigating,” said Winders.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the family as they work with the State Department, and authorities in Mexico, to make sure their remains return home. So far, more than $12,000 was raised.

An Airbnb spokesperson sent a statement Thursday night to Spectrum News, which read in part, “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy, and our thoughts are with Ed and Barbara’s families, loved ones and friends. We are reaching out to their children to extend our full support to help them through this difficult time.”

Ed Winders spent most of his life in the Capital Region. He was heavily involved in local politics and even served on the Albany County Legislature.

"I haven't seen leadership like that since he left,” said George Scaringe, a former Albany County GOP chair.

He remembers Winders as a brilliant public servant and had planned to host Winders at his home this week.

“It is going to be a void in my life,” Scaringe said.

Moller was active in humanitarian efforts in Latin America and Africa. The two worked together on the non-profit Voices for Global Change. Family members say one way to honor them is by calling attention to the dangers of carbon monoxide and to advocate for safety requirements.

“Part of our legacy and part of honoring our parents would be to really put that out there in the world,” Winders said.

Family members say both wish Winders and Moller wish to be cremated.

The two had deep ties to multiple locations across the world so, at this point, loved ones say it is unclear where the remains will be taken once they are brought back to the United States.