Lisa Terio-Heath was thinking of her parents, Anthony and Rosemary Terio Tuesday night as Americans honored the many lives lost during a national COVID-19 memorial.

"I miss them a lot. I don’t even remember what was on and I literally still go pick up the phone to call my mom and I can’t do that anymore,” she said.

The Terios lived in Jackson Heights and both died from the virus within five days of each other in the early stages of the pandemic.

“For the first time, I actually feel like they’re getting honored. I’m sad to see so much death still continuing to happen so many stories like my own that are continuing it’s just so sad,” she added.

The Terios are among more than 26,000 people who died from coronavirus in the city and more than 40,000 who died in New York — the most deaths of any state in the nation.

Mayor de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray talked about those many lives lost aboard a ferry for a memorial overlooking the Statue of Liberty.

“There’s no greater symbol – this is the ultimate symbol right here – the ultimate beacon of hope. And, tonight, the Statue of Liberty is lit in honor of those New Yorkers we've lost. We stand here in the shadow of this statue, which reminds us of something eternal,” said de Blasio.

Terio-Heath says the love her parents share is eternal. While it’s been difficult for the family going on without them, she says they would want to be together. She felt mixed emotions as she watched the many tributes from across the country.

“It’s like a good and a bad feeling. I’m suffering the loss of my parents but I still feel so much hope in my heart for the world, for the future people that can be saved and for our country,” she said.

Terio-Heath says as the death toll rises she just hopes more Americans take the virus seriously — by wearing a mask and getting the vaccine when it’s available to them.