What is the difference between whole life insurance vs annuity with a death benefit payout

I am fully uneducated in this area and would like some advice. My mother passed away a few months ago and I have found that after her death she's had a couple of life insurance policies and annuity accounts. I am unsure of the difference between the two. I live in a different state of my mother and do not have access to her policies to see the details. One of the life insurance companies I called initially told me she had whole life insurance and when i called a few weeks later they told me that it was an annuity, because I am ignorant to the difference I wasn't sure how to respond. I have not filed my claim yet because I am unsure of the difference and if it will mean anything in the payout of the benefit whether it be from whole life insurance or an annuity. She's had this policy since the 90s and I wasn't aware that she had it until the last couple of weeks. I would like to know if anyone has any advice on how to proceed with anything like this. I don't have a copy of the the original policy and the insurance company will not provide a copy to me or let me know how much the death benefit is so I am unsure on how to accept the money too (i.e. lump sum, life time payout, etc.).

any and all advice is appreciated.

submitted by /u/loveypower
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