Story highlights Angela "Big Ang" Raiola rose to fame in VH1 reality series "Mob Wives"

Raiola fought lung and brain cancer

She was known for her raspy voice, large stature and love of plastic surgery

(CNN) Angela "Big Ang" Raiola, the flamboyant reality TV star who rose to fame on the VH1 series "Mob Wives," died early Thursday after a battle with lung and brain cancer. She was 55.

"I am saddened to say that at 3:01 a.m., Ang lost her battle with cancer," said Jennifer Graziano, creator and executive producer of "Mob Wives." "She passed peacefully surrounded by friends and family."

The announcement of Raiola's death also went out on her confirmed Twitter account through a message posted "on behalf of the family" from Vinnie Medugno, who occasionally appeared on the reality show.

The VH1 series, which began in 2011, features Staten Island women connected to men with alleged mob ties. According to the network's site, Raiola was the niece of Salvatore "Sally Dogs" Lombardi , who was a reported captain of the Genovese crime family.

Far from shying away from the Mafia connection, her bio on the site said, "Big Ang always strived to be popular with 'the mob.' "

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