Vh1 Star Pronounced Dead In NYC

Reality star Angela “Big Ang” Raiola pronounced dead at 3:01 a.m in a New York hospital.  The “Mob Wives’ star lost her battle of almost a year to brain and lung cancer at the age of 55.

“I am saddened to say that at 3:01 a.m., Ang lost her battle with cancer,” Jennifer Graziano, creator and executive producer of “Mob Wives,” said.

The reality star was known for her big lips, raspy voice, and outgoing personality. Rarely feuding, the peacemaker of the cast will always be remembered. Raiola, a lifelong smoker, was diagnosed with cancer in March of 2015 and has underwent surgery for throat cancer and declared cancer-free in October 2015, but the deadly disease soon made a comeback in December of 2015. Doctors say that the disease was definitely caused by her smoking cigarettes.

Big Ang was falsely confirmed dead late Wednesday night, but family and friends quickly corrected this error by stating she was still holding on for dear life. Family and friends were there by her side, including her estranged husband Neil Murphy. Raiola announced her separation to her husband on Dr. Oz

“I felt like he never stepped up to the plate, so I was done with it,” Big Ang told Dr. Oz.

When Raiola diagnosed again in December, her sister made a GoFundMe account which reached its goal of 25,000 in two days, raising a total of 45,000 in two weeks. Raiola survived by her sister and two sons, and six grandchildren.

The Vh1 series in which Big Ang starred was based on women connected to the mob either through marriage or blood. Big Ang was the niece of Salvatore “Sally Dogs” Lombardi, who was a reported captain of the Genovese crime family.

Big Ang has had spin-offs such as “Big Ang,” and “Miami Monkey” which followed her through the opening and success of her Miami based bar.

Featured Image By Edwin Martinez via Flickr

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