Is life insurance money taxable?

Does the government take out taxes for a life insurance policy that you got after a family member died. My mom just ped away and her policy was $50,000. Her funeral was 11,000 plus 5% intrest for the funeral home. That should leave me and my brother and my dad 12,000 something each. Well my dad called and told me they taxed it and we get 3,000 each.