TJ Maxx Cashier/Sales Associate interview questions

I did an initial phone interview, then proceeded to an inperson interview. It was overall easy and pretty simple. They asked me for references but never called them. I talked a lot about customer service and remaining calm and polite to customers who may be angry.

One interview and got told I was not a candidate because they asked what is the most important thing in my life (I said my grandma because she was seriously ill, on dialysis and fighting for her life) because I didn't say work I was not a candidate! Honesty seems to be what they don't want...