“Big Ang”, Star of VH1’s ‘Mob Wives’ Dies From Cancer at 55

Reality star, Angela Raiola, who was known by her fans as the larger than life persona on VH1’s Mob Wives has lost her agonizing battle with cancer. She was 55 years old.
Media outlets like Entertainment Tonight grotesquely announced her passing late Wednesday night, despite the fact that the terminally ill star was still putting up a brave fight.

NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 06: Mob Wives star Angela “Big Ang” Raiola attends MDA’s 18th Annual Muscle Team Gala at Pier 60 on January 6, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Rommel Demano/Getty Images)

Her reps quickly refuted the claims that Raiola had died by issuing a statement confirming that she was still very much alive.
But early Thursday morning it was confirmed by the producer of Mob Wives, Jennifer Graziano that the reality TV star had succumbed to the dire effects of late stage cancer.
“Big Ang” was introduced to audiences through the lenses of VH1’s hit show Mob Wives which debuted in 2011.

The show captured the lives of women who were dealing with the repercussions of having strong ties to the mob. Raiola was the niece of Salvatore Lombadi, who rolled with the Genovese crime family.

Her raspy voice, boisterous delivery, and almost caricature appearance that was born from extensive plastic surgery, endeared her to viewers and encouraged her own spinoff, Big Ang which focused on her marriage and her Staten Island based establishment – Drunken Monkey. The bar was shut down last spring after it was discovered that Raiola was operating it without a liquor license.

Raiola was very vocal about her health challenges and shared her struggle while appearing on Couples Therapy – another offering from VH1. She detailed the recuperation process after her Stage 2 throat cancer diagnosis, forced her to undergo surgery to remove a large tumor from her throat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LG5KzKrack&feature=youtu.be

But more bad news was to follow when after a biopsy – it was discovered that her years of heavy smoking had resulted in Stage 4 lung and brain cancer.

Just this past Tuesday, Raiola appeared on the Dr. Oz Show where she spoke frankly about the seriousness of her condition and admitted that being a long time smoker was to blame for her rapidly declining health. “I was smoking for 40 years”. “I think whoever smokes should quit, and if they didn’t start, don’t start”.

A couple of weeks ago a GoFundMe page was created by family members when it became clear that the treatments Raiola had been receiving were not producing positive results – and the plan was to seek alternative methods.

But unfortunately, the reality star was apparently too far gone. But she didn’t go without a fight and her ability to rise above despite her bleak disposition is a testimony to the spirit that made her a household name.