Southern Illinois family tied to tragic COVID-19 deaths

MARION - For Chanda Malone, the idea that COVID-19 is not a threat is ludicrous.

For Malone, who is the deputy county clerk in Williamson County, that threat became all too real last week, well before two cases were confirmed in southern Illinois.

Malone's sister, Michelle, a 1993 graduate of Johnston City High School, is a member of the Fusco family from New Jersey, which lost four of its members to COVID-19 in the past week.

Michelle's mother-in-law, Grace, a mother of 11, died in a hospital last Wednesday, the same day her eldest son died in a Pennsylvania hospital. Her 55-year-old daughter died on Friday.

And also Friday, Michelle's husband Vinny, who had been on a ventilator, passed alone.

Four of Grace's surviving children are now hospitalized with the virus. Nineteen other family members, including children, have been tested and are in isolation at their homes.

"Please keep Michelle and Vinny and the rest of the family in your prayers," wrote Chanda on several Facebook posts, her best way to communicate with her sister's friends and classmates in Illinois.

A GoFundMe was set up on March 16 with a goal of $15,000 to help the family meet expenses. Just over $5,000 has been raised so far.

"People are so good," said Malone. "A bunch of her classmates called to see what they could do."

Malone also posted a photo of her sister's front porch, packed with essentials like bottled water, cleaning supplies, and groceries.

"This brought tears to my eyes," she said.

The family likely contracted the disease during a regular family gathering. Malone is taking social distance seriously.

"It can happen," she said. "It has."