Mafia Undertakers / Funeral Homes

[B.]

A recurring theme with Cosa Nostra is mafia-owned funeral parlors and members who work as undertakers. Despite the sinister overtones (sometimes valid) and their use for mafia-connected funerals/wakes, these are always fully-functioning businesses and community fixtures.

Just trying to list out all of the known examples...

- Pasquale and Anthony Miceli. St. Louis boss and member son. In addition to its practical use, the parlor was used for meetings of the Family consiglio.

- Carl Corsentino. DeCavalcante member. JD shared info that when a member died the parlor would clear "civilians" out and the Family members would each go around kissing the forehead of the deceased member. Despite Rotondo's testimony that Corsentino's father (a member too) originally owned the parlor and used it for "double decker" disposal, he was incorrect and it was son Carl who established the parlor, neither was the elder Corsentino an undertaker.

- John Robilotto. Gambino captain. Never heard of his parlor servicing the mafia but seems probable.

- Joseph Cusumano and Gaetano Russo. Gambino member and captain. Their funeral parlor was used heavily for mafia-connected funerals.

- Andrea Torregrossa. Gambino member. Like Cusumano and Russo, his parlor was and still is widely used for mafia funeral services.

- Robert Scarpaci. Gambino member, apparently an ex-Genovese associate. Same as the above two, used widely by the local mafia.

- Ralph Balsamo. Genovese captain. I assume his parlor is used similar to the above but don't know of examples.

- Pietro Bonventre. Bonanno member. Ran a funeral home, likely used by the Family for services but again don't know of examples.

- Frank Abbatemarco. Colombo captain. Don't know the details of his business.

- Stefano Magaddino. Enough said. Along with Magaddino, member Paul Palmeri previously ran the funeral home. Magaddino relatives who were members also worked for the parlor. It was essentially the HQ of the Family admin.

I'm sure this list could be quite extensive and national in scope but wanted to get it rolling.

[B.]

Apparently these too:

- Frankie Yale. Genovese captain.

- Johnny Giustra and Carmelo LiConti. Gambino members.

- Sam Oliveri. Chicago and Rockford member.

[Pogo The Clown]

DeCavalcante member Felice "The Undertaker" LaMela. I don't recall if he was actually in the undertaking business or if it was just his nickname.


Pogo

[B.]

DeCavalcante member Felice "The Undertaker" LaMela. I don't recall if he was actually in the undertaking business or if it was just his nickname.


Pogo

Apparently in his case it was because he participated in burying murder victims in Marlboro:

https://nypost.com/2003/05/07/the-hole- ... testifies/

[B.]

Also there are of course sons and relatives of members who run parlors as well as associates but I'm trying to focus on ones that were outright owned or operated by made members. This is along the lines of my past threads about members who were doctors and politicians.

[Antiliar]

Respect the Undertaker!

[B.]

Respect the Undertaker!

Hahaha. He's a biker, though, not mafia.

I can hear the bell toll now.

[Pogo The Clown]

Don't sleep on Paul Bearer.


Pogo

[B.]

- Percy Pringle. Birmingham member. Allowed bikers to use his parlor as HQ.

[Pogo The Clown]

Funny enough he was a licensed mortician in real life.


Pogo

[B.]

Wrestling really did used to be its own mafia org with regional Families and transfers back in the day. Back before Big Vince muscled in as the capo dei capi. Kayfabe = Omerta.

[Pogo The Clown]

And the NWA governing board was their Commision. It too ceased to exist by the mid-1980s.


Pogo

[OcSleeper]

Paolo Renda of Montreal owned Complexe Funeraire Loreto.

Didn't Donald Panepinto of Buffalo own or work at one as well?

[B.]

Alfred Panepinto was an early partner in what became the Magaddino Memorial Chapel who was killed and it's possible he was a member. Not sure if Donald is/was also in that business or related to Alfred.

NickelCity would be the guy to know.

Didn't know Renda owned that. Great info.

[jimmyb]

Bagnasco in Detroit.