The cast member of reality TV show "Mob Wives" Angela "Big Ang" Raiola succumbed to cancer on Thursday. Raiola was 55.
In an Instagram post, friend Vincent "Vinnie" Medugno confirmed the TV star's demise, noting that she died at exactly 3:01 a.m. He claimed that family members were on her bedside when she took her last breath.
"YOU, (Her fans) were some of the most special people in her world, and she loved you immensely. Thank you for your love, prayers, and unconditional support of Angela right to the very end," Medugno said. "The family asks for privacy, and peace during this most difficult time," he added, noting that Big Ang's social media sites will remain open.
The New York Times reported that Raiola was earlier diagnosed with lung and brain cancer. She recently had pneumonia, which caused her health to decline and eventually worsen because of the complication, "Mob Wives" creator and executive producer Jennifer Graziano said.
But even when she was already dealing with health problems, "Big Ang" continued shooting for the TV show. She admitted that smoking was a big contributor to her illness but that it was very hard for her to quit the vice.
"I was smoking for 40 years," Big Ang mentioned in The New York Times report. "I think whoever smokes should quit, and if they didn't start, don't start."
As per US Magazine, Raiola was also earlier suffering from throat cancer, an illness which started in March last year. She underwent two surgeries to remove lumps on her throat and was confident she was already cancer-free.
However, by the end of 2015, Big Ang discovered she was on the late stage of brain and lung cancer. Earlier this year, she mentioned in an interview the difficulty she experienced dealing with recovery then pain again,
"First I thought I was cancer-free and I was gonna have a big celebration, have a party, and then a month later I [had] stage IV [cancer]," Big Ang said.
