How was I to know?....

So I worked a day shift yesterday, and just at the end of the shift we received a new patient to our floor and I was asked to call the family to notify them of the move. So I did just that not realizing the depth and severity that this conversation would hold. I phoned who was next of kin on her contact list who just so happened to be her son. The phone rang a few times and then a woman answer. I asked to speak with the contact on the form, the woman replied "who's calling?" I answered. She then said"are you sitting down?" and with my wittiness I replied "no, actually I'm standing." She stated "well maybe you should sit." So, still standing I said "okay." She then informed me that this person just died last Tuesday. I then sat down. And with that comment I was speechless, what do you say to that?!! No one knew and I just so happened to be the lucky bugger to call the family. So, all I could think of was to apologize over and over and over again. I said to the woman that I just wanted to inform them that their mother was moved to a different room and left it at that. The woman sounded quite disgusted that I did not know that her significant other, and the patients son, had passed away but hey, how was I to know?