(CNN) Richard Frieson's sister, Patricia, was the first person in Illinois to die from the coronavirus outbreak.

Before the family found out she had the infection, Frieson's family didn't think much of it when she reported having breathing problems, he told CNN Friday.

"On the same day we learned of her death, though, my other sister was checking herself into the ER for a cough that she had," Frieson said of the second sister, Wanda. "That one took us by surprise."

The two sisters ultimately died from the same disease. What hits the family the most is that they didn't get the chance to give their sisters a final goodbye, Frieson said.

"The toughest part about my sisters' death is that they had to die alone in the hospital," Frieson said. "It's just devastating to us that we couldn't go to see them in their last moments."