As fans prepare to say goodbye to the cast of VH1's hit reality TV show "Mob Wives" during the series finale on Wednesday, March 9, the network is also preparing to say goodbye to the larger-than-life star Angela "Big Ang" Raiola. Immediately following the series finale, VH1 will air a special where co-stars and celebrities pay tribute to Raiola.
Raiola lost her battle with stage four lung and brain cancer on Feb. 18, at 55 years old. The Staten Island, N.Y. native was the niece of the infamous Salvatore "Sally Dogs" Lombardi, a captain of the Genovese crime family. She was known as the fun-loving peacemaker of the "Mob Wives" cast.
The network will honor Raiola, "one of its brightest stars," with a star-studded special "one last party" to celebrate her life. Nina Parker will host alongside New York City's Hot 97 radio DJ Nessa. They will be joined in-studio by Raiola's celebrity fans Yandy Smith-Harris of VH1's "Love and Hip Hop: New York," Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Vinny Guadagnino of MTV's "Jersey Shore," Dr. Jenn Mann of VH1's "Couples Therapy," and rapper Joe Budden.
TV personality Wendy Williams, the cast of the Fox5 daytime talk show "The Real," former star of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" Kim Zolciak, "Jersey Shore" alumna Jenni "JWoww" Farley and Pauly D, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Joy Behar will also pay tribute to Raiola with video taped messages.
Raiola's "Mob Wives" co-stars and longtime friends Drita D'Avanzo, Karen Gravano, Renee Graziano and Carla Facciolo will also be in attendance, and some of the ladies shared photos and videos from the taping, which took place earlier this week. D'Avanzo shared a selfie with Polizzi and Raiola's daughter Raquel Scotto, who also attended the taping.
"#BigAngTributeLastNight my girl @snookinic n Angs beautiful daughter @raquel_scotto her #Twin love them n had the best time with them...always..xo," D'Avanzo wrote in the caption.
Gravano shared a selfie with Facciolo, Graziano and new "Mob Wives" cast member Marissa Fiore, which was also taken during the event.
"Amazing tribute to an amazing woman... Make sure you tune in Wednesday night after #mobwives and watch the tribute & celebration of Angs life #ripbigang larger than life," Gravano wrote on Instagram.
See their posts below and be sure to tune into the "Larger Than Life: A Celebration of Big Ang" special, which will air immediately after the series finale of "Mob Wives" tonight at 9 p.m. on VH1.
A photo posted by Drita (@dritadavanzoladyboss) on Mar 8, 2016 at 5:28am PST
