Cinderella's Dad?

Everyone knows the story of Cinderella. There are a few things about the story that I would like clarification on. 1. What happened to Cinderella's Father? I know he died, but how? 2. Do you think her father knew what Cinderella's step mother was really like? 3. Do you think her father treated her better than her step sister's? These are very important questions in the story. How manipulative was her step mother? Was she actually able to hide her hate from her husband? Was Cinderella's father a good father and protect his daughter? Was he able to show love to the children in his family that were not his blood? makes you wonder...