a place to call your home

Zack was born and raised in a small backwater village called Gongaga. The village is located far from any other towns or cities and is surrounded by rough terrain. The geographical location is near the Southern Tip, on the Eastern Continent. Gongaga is an obscure location and it is possible to miss it entirely, because it isn't crucial to the game, however if you want to take a trip (in Final Fantasy VII, it is impossible to visit in the compilation), here's the location. After winning Chocobo Racing, the repentant Dio sends you a message stating his deepest apologies and that, to say sorry, you're now the proud owner of a Buggy. With the Buggy, you can head back to Costa del Sol and take the cargo ship back to the East Continent. To get to Gongaga Drive south, crossing the river along the way, and you'll eventually end up in Gongaga in the middle of a jungle. Be warned though, before entering the main town you will have to fight your old friends, the TURKS. Zack's parents live in the east-central house. By going there you may find out a bit more about Zack.

Zack left home in εуλ 1997 at the age of 16 and it is likely he never returned due to his duties as a SOLDIER. This means that during Final Fantasy VII, Zack's parents haven't seen him in ten years, and haven't even spoken to him in five. His parents never learned of his death, even though they received visits from Cissnei, of the TURKS after Zack was reported as being killed in action. Therefore, while it is likely that they realize he died, they try to keep up hope that he's still alive. They keep one of his letters on their desk. In the international version of Final Fantasy VII you can read it.

Dear Dad and Mom,
How are you guys?
Sorry for leaving town so suddenly.
I just really wanted to become a SOLDIER.
I bet you're worried now that I've told you...
But now I'm fulfilling my lifelong dream, and I'll do my best in SOLDIER.
P.S. I have a girlfriend.
Zack

Another interesting point to consider while you're visiting Gongaga is the party's silence about their relationship with Zack. Four party members (Aerith, Cloud, Tifa, and Yuffie) all knew Zack, yet none of them bother to mention it, when his parents ask if they knew him. It is understandable that Cloud and Yuffie don't mention him, because neither of them would have any recollection of him. Tifa and Aerith however could have said something to his parents. I'm not surprised that Tifa didn't, she hated Shinra because of the events at Nibelheim and she probably held Zack partially responsible. In addition to blaming him, she never really knew what happened to him after his fight against Sephiroth; meaning she wouldn't be able to say for sure whether he died or not.

Aerith's silence is what surprises me most. Aerith never found out for sure what happened to Zack but, based on her scene at the end of Crisis Core, I think she knew he died. In the scene I'm speaking of, Aerith seems to get a gut feeling while watering her flowers. She looks up to the sky, and then prays. This happens right as Zack loses his battle against Shinra, and is taking his final breaths. The only reason she would have to not say anything would be if she honestly didn't want to believe he died.