On Thursday morning at 5:55 am, Ang “Big Angela” Raiola, a star of VH1’s Mob Wives, passed away in a New York City hospital after a nearly year-long battle with throat cancer, surrounded by her family and friends.
With “peacefully ended her battle with cancer,” Raiola’s family broke the news of her death to her fans from her Twitter account.
“Thank you for your affection, prayers, and unwavering backing of Angela until the very end,” the statement attached to the tweet expresses. “YOU (fans) were among the most exceptional individuals in her life, and she adored you greatly.”
The reality star, upon sharing the news with her fans via Facebook, urged them to assume responsibility for their own individual well-being. In March 2015, she received a diagnosis of throat cancer, which subsequently metastasized to her brain and lung.
“I express my gratitude and affection towards all of you sincerely,” she penned in April of 2015. “I am privileged and favored to have stumbled upon something at an early stage, and manage it in an optimistic way. Continuously take care of yourselves and do not disregard your well-being.”
Big Ang’s top 5 most significant moments on ‘Mob Wives’.
Raiola discussed her struggle in a pre-recorded appearance on a February 2016 episode of the Dr. Oz program.
Sometimes, I don’t always feel fine and I’m gonna say that. She explained that she has been declared cancer-free twice and also mentioned that the disease has spread to other areas of her body. In a tearful interview, she told the host, “I know how much they need me and I look at my grandchildren and kids,” expressing how her family has supported her throughout her journey.
Firstly, she advocated for others to stop smoking or refrain from starting. Following her diagnosis, she promptly ceased smoking and clarified that she had been a cigarette user for four decades, a factor her doctors had identified as the definitive reason for her ailment. Additionally, she deliberated on this particular detail.
Neil Murphy, her husband, was no longer a part of her life, but Raiola mentioned on the show that her brother-in-law and sister had been supporting her during her illness.
Despite her reputation as a peacemaker on the show, Ang Big, a popular member of the cast of Mob Wives, actually had a connection to the world of organized crime through her late husband, “Sally Salvatore Lombardi,” who was reputed to be the captain of the Genovese crime family. This connection eventually led to her getting her own reality spin-off show, Monkey Miami, although it was later retooled. Additionally, despite being known as the 6-foot-tall “mob wife,” Ang Big’s popularity on the show helped her resolve disputes among other cast members.
Twitter grieves the loss of Angie ‘Big Ang’ Raiola.
Raiola resided with her daughter Raquel’s family in Staten Island, New York, while managing the Drunken Monkey bar. Her son, Anthony, and her sister, Janine, also joined her on her different television programs, alongside numerous relatives.
By Thursday morning, the funeral plans were still to be determined.