Can I access ICloud from 2018 time frame?

My wife had her iPhone fall from roof of her car at speed, and was destroyed. ATT store tried to help her access ICloud at the time but password never worked. They said nothing else they could do…there were important family funeral pics on it that we wish we could somehow retrieve.

Surely there has to be some kind of way to possibly gain access—IF they’re still available?

thanks for any guidance.