How can I access a deceased family member's locked iPod without their email?

My sister died unexpectedly last December and she appointed me her estate manager. I found her ipod recently but there is no password info in her password manager, nor in the small notebook she usually noted such things.

Her login is an old Roadrunner address that is defunct. We Roadrunner some time ago. I just followed the steps for gaining access defined at iforgot.apple.com, but in response the link that I tell them I cannot use her roadrunner address, it loads a page advising me that they will send their response to the road runner address. We've confirmed her phone number is in her account because I can respond to requests to enter verification codes.

The page that informed me they will contact me via the defunct roadrunner address after identifying it as unavailable is a bit of a mystery.

Is there anything that can be done to access the phone. As part of the estate, I intend to sell it and do have buyer. It isn't much money, but the estate does have debt attached to and every penny helps.

over to the community! Jim

So, I did not find itunes on either her desktop or her laptop. She used to have a iphone 6+ but changed to a Pixel phone some time ago. The iphone has been recycled. Finally, I cannot tell if she ever activated the phone without accessing it or her account.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]