As Ang becomes "Angel," Angela "Big Ang" Raiola died earlier this week at the age of 55. Big Ang was in a long term battle with stage IV lung and brain cancer. After having two surgeries to rid herself of the lemon-sized tumor that was found in her throat last March, Ang thought she was in the clear. Later, this developed into stage IV lung and brain cancer. Big Ang passed at 3:01 a.m. on February 18 after a "hoax death" earlier that evening.
Around 10 p.m. on February 17, Entertainment Weekly and other publications were reporting the death of Big Ang when she was still alive. This caused an uproar on many social media platforms. Many people were tweeting and making Facebook posts about how they love Big Ang, "Mob Wives," and many, many photos of people with Big Ang recalling their meetings with her in years past. However, two days before her death, Big Ang sat down for an interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz and discussed her experience with her battle with cancer.
She said to Oz that she recalled being "perfectly fine" when she thought that she only had strep throat. Big Ang went to the doctor for her ailment to discover that it was actually stage II throat cancer. Ang planned to have a big celebration for being cancer-free after the removal of the tumor in her throat, but a month later she was diagnosed with stage IV lung and brain cancer.
Shortly before her death, she left her husband, Neil Murphy. The couple appeared on the hit reality show "Couples Therapy" from October to December of 2015. The show was supposed to help them fix their marriage issues while being surrounded by other couples. The purpose of the television program did not work in the favor of this couple and Ang left Neil because he was not offering the support she needed while fighting cancer. Big Ang became close with Carmen Carrera and Adrian Torres in the "Couples Therapy" house, who were devastated at the death of Ang.
Big Ang's death has been mentioned in tweets by thousands of people who have loved her. From friends, family, and fans, she received hundreds of positive tweets. In her interview with Oz, she describes how much her family needs her. Big Ang broke down crying when she thought about her grandchildren and how they always sleep at her house. She described how she needed to keep positive and if it was not for her family and their love and support, she would not have been able to deal with her battle.
Big Ang had a mantra that she stated during her own reality show "Big Ang" on VH1. "Party every day, live day for day, because you never know when you’re gonna go."
Big Ang certainly lived to the beat of her own drum and took her philosophy and lived by it every day. Now that Big Ang has become a big angel, she will forever be loved by her family, friends and fans of her and her work.
Angela "Big Ang" Raiola died at the age of 55.
