Obituaries

Gandolfini Wake Draws Media, Fans to Park Ridge

Actor James Gandolfini died last week at 51.

Crowds gathered outside of the Robert Spearing Funeral Home in Park Ridge Wednesday while the family of James Gandolfini attended a wake for the deceased actor inside.

Gandolfini, "The Sopranos" star who was born in Westwood and grew up in Park Ridge, died in Rome last week after suffering a heart attack.

His family held a private wake in the funeral home Wednesday afternoon before a public funeral at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in Manhattan Thursday.

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Family members, including a baby thought to be Gandolfini's child, entered the funeral home hidden behind vans and umbrellas.

Park Ridge resident Josephine Hayduk said she thought it was nice that the famous actor's family would hold the wake in his hometown.

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"He was very well-liked here," Hayduk said. "If he was walking down the street now, he'd stop and say 'hello' to everyone."

Local police has asked members of the public to avoid the funeral home during the wake, but that didn't stop more than 30 photographers and videographers and dozens of fans and curious onlookers from gathering around the funeral home.

"We're just trying to let the family mourn in private," Park Ridge Police Capt. Joseph Rampolla said.

At least 12 police were outside the funeral home during the wake, directing traffic and keeping photographers off the property.

Tom Bolella, a mechanic at the garage across the street from the funeral home, said he thought it was "not right" for the crowds to gather during the private function.

"The family deserves some privacy," he said.


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