Posted on 12/30/2013 3:10:27 PM PST by rickmichaels
MONTREAL — For the third time in just over four years, the main Italian Catholic church in Montreal hosted a funeral for Canada's reputed first family of Mafia power.
A cortege of 11 limousines followed a hearse carrying the body of Vito Rizzuto, the multilingual don who ran an international crime syndicate that frustrated Canadian law enforcement for decades.
The 67-year-old Sicilian-born Montrealer died of complications from lung cancer a week earlier.
About 100 people attended Monday's funeral, mainly close relatives of the don. None of them spoke to reporters.
It was a far cry from the big crowds that attended the family's funeral home for a viewing on Sunday, which featured Vito's childhood friend and potential successor, Rocco Sollecito, as well as a stunning array of floral arrangements.
The cornucopia of flowers was also on display at the funeral. From the back of one limousine hung a set of flowers that formed the word "Nonno," which means "grandpa" in Italian.
Another bouquet sported a ribbon that read "Farewell, my Friend."
Rizzuto's wife Giovanna Cammalleri, his mother Libertina Manno, and his surviving children Leonardo and Bettina were among two dozen family members who emerged from the line of limousines in front of the red-brick building.
The same church, built by Italian immigrants in 1919, was the scene of funerals for Rizzuto's son Nick Jr. in 2009 and father Nick Sr. in 2010. Assassins gunned down both men while Vito was in a U.S. prison.
One young relative exploded in anger at the journalists on the sidewalk and punched a TV camera that struck a cameraman in the face.
Other mourners were more discreet, hustling in a side door of the ornate church, away from the cameras.
Six elderly and middle-aged men then carried Rizzuto's bronze coffin, adorned with gold, into the building. Private security guards prevented two reporters from entering the service, which lasted 45 minutes.
Nicknamed "Montreal's Teflon don" for his ability to avoid incarceration, Vito Rizzuto was finally nabbed by U.S. law enforcement for his role in a 1981 Mob triple murder.
He spent six years in prison south of the border, giving rivals a chance to kill several of his family members and associates in a takeover bid.
The crime boss returned to Canada in October 2012 and the bodies soon started piling up.
At least six rivals were shot dead and one was poisoned with cyanide.
By the time he died, experts believed Rizzuto had regained control of the underworld.
Law enforcement will be busy during the ongoing period of uncertainty that Rizzuto's death created.
Police kept a discreet distance from the church during Monday's funeral, but marked cruisers could be seen on nearby side streets and in alleyways.
QMI Agency crime analyst Francois Dore, a former Quebec provincial police officer, said Rizzuto's funeral was a police operation.
"They take the opportunity to update their photo albums, their information, who is hanging around with who," he said.
Following the funeral, Rizzuto's body was driven to the family mausoleum in east-end Montreal and laid to rest alongside those of his father and son.
Did his son have sit down with the rest of crime families settle the Family business ala Godfather 1 ending
Doubtful that he’s going to get any rest.
I bet nearly 100% of all former mafia will be roasting in Hell.
Deathbed conversions being the exception.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
I wonder if Nadia G catered the repast.
Oh look - the Catholic church game him a funeral.
And they wonder why people think the church is a joke.
bump
but he was saved as a child and once saved always saved, they say. So what are a few bodies and a lifetime of crimes like pimping in between?
//sarcasm
Salvatore D’Aquila (1878–1928)
Salvatore Maranzano (1886–1931)
Harry Maione (1908–1942)
Lucky Luciano (1897–1962)
Joseph Profaci (1898–1962)
Vito Genovese (1897–1969)
Carlo Gambino (1902–1976)
Aniello Dellacroce (1914–1985)
Joe Colombo (1923–1978)
Carmine Galante (1910–1979)
John Dioguardi (1914–1979)
Frank Tieri (1904–1981)
Roy Albert DeMeo (1941–1983)
Paul Vario (1914–1988)
Wilfred Johnson, (1935–1988)
Carmine Fatico (1910–1991)
Philip Rastelli (1918–1991)
James Napoli (1911–1992)
Carmine Lombardozzi (1913–1992)
John Gotti (1940–2002)
Vannie Higgins (1897–1932) – Prohibition era Mob Boss and Rum Runner
Michele Miranda (1896–1973)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John_Cemetery,_Queens,_New_York#Organized_crime
That TV station will probably have to make up for it, maybe some under the table cash for the mob
As a Catholic myself I’ve always been troubled by the Church’s willingness to grant a Catholic burial...with all the *pomp*...to individuals who almost certainly can be said to have led blatantly and breathtakingly sinful lives.And that doesn’t just go for Italian mobsters...it also goes for the likes of IRA terrorists and assorted members of the Kennedy family (yes,I’m Irish).
A year or two ago,after having seen a Crime Channel documentary on Paul Castellano I made it a point to take the ferry to Staten Island to see the "White House",the mansion in which he lived.Very impressive...and very spooky too.One of these days I might take the subway for a peek at the Ravenite Social Club or Sparks Steak House.
The savages don’t deserve a funeral in a Church.
Lol. It's now a pajama boy shoe store. In fact, most of historic Mulberry St is now pajama boy town. Damn shame what happened to it. Not referring to the Mob, but rather all the hard working Italian people and families that used to live there. Sky high rents drove nearly all of them out.
Infant baptism doesn’t save. But based on your sarc tag, I think you know that.
Of course I know that.
Who am I to question the church or the character of future Saint Vito.
:p
I hate it when that happens.
Sold his eternal soul for a bunch of ‘stuff’.
I’m sure he figured he would have to spend some time in Purgatory.
Infant baptism doesn’t save? Really??
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