Remembering Big Ang: a Complete Timeline of Her Mob Wives Journey and Passing
By Elena Rostova
In March 2015, Raiola visited a doctor for what she assumed was a routine throat ailment. Imaging quickly revealed a large tumor in her throat, requiring intensive surgery to excise the growth alongside surrounding lymph nodes. Having smoked heavily for roughly four decades, she immediately quit cigarettes and appeared to be recovering following a grueling eight-hour procedure.
By late 2015, however, the disease returned aggressively. Routine checkups revealed stage 4 lung cancer that had rapidly metastasized to her brain. Rather than retreating quietly into private care, she elected to document her treatment during the filming of Mob Wives: The Last Stand (Season 6), giving audiences an unflinching look at the physical toll of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
In mid-February 2016, she gave an emotional interview on The Dr. Oz Show, candidly speaking about confronting mortality, her estrangement from Murphy at the time, and her reliance on her children and grandchildren. Two days after the interview aired, on February 18, 2016, Raiola died at a Manhattan hospital surrounded by loved ones.
The remaining episodes of Season 6 became a serialized wake. VH1 restructured the production around her, closing the franchise with a dedicated celebration of life that superseded every long-standing grudge between the surviving cast members.
Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.
