Who was the first family member in The Jungle to die and why?

In Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle," the first family member to die is the character of Dede. Her death is a result of the harsh conditions and exploitation faced by immigrant workers in the meatpacking industry, which leads to her suffering from tuberculosis. Dede's passing highlights the grim realities of the working-class struggle and the impact of industrialization on families in early 20th-century America.