I've been teaching the same gen ed course for 10 years. I wish I had kept track of the excuses as I'm sure my data would have mirrored this data.

While teaching in the classroom (I know teach online), I started each semester by mentioning that some of the students would suffer a loved-one loss. I said I was certain that their loved one would want them to carry on and take the exam so as not to fall behind.

Interestingly, less family members "died" after I started mentioning that.