Al Capone's Funeral

After a massive stroke, his family had gathered together in the guest room of his villa and Al was given the last rites by Msgr Barry Williams (St. Patrick's Church,Miami). Minutes later Al passes away.

Now the task at hand was to decide when and where would the funeral take place along with the burial.Dr. Kenneth Phillips who had taken care of Al in his syphillitic state conferred with the family and asked them if there was any possiblity of an autopsy being performed on Al's brain for medical purposes.The family unanimously denied the Dr. of this procedure.

Al's body was going to the grave in one piece. The body was sent to the Philbrick funeral home where after being embalmed it was placed in the Philbrick Chapel for viewing.The funeral home was Florida's largest at the time.The first day of viewing on Sunday, Jan.26 Mae and Theresa did not attend as both had collapsed at the passing of Al from this world the previous evening.On the first day only the remainder of his family attended along with 35 others who managed to get clearance from the guards posted there.

The body was placed in a $2,000 massive bronze casket.This casket was a far cry from the extravagant funerals given his friends and enemies during his reign as crime lord in Chicago back in the 20's.The $15,000 caskets made back in the day were no longer available, but Al's family got him the best there was.

Al Capone's body occupied a prominent position in the Chapel drawing room.The room was decorated in gray pastel and carpeted in green and furnished with flowery patterned love seats.

Al's face and body looked shrunken once placed in the massive bronze $2,000 casket.Capone's body was dressed in a new blue double breasted suit,white shirt,black tie,black silk socks and the classic gangster black and white shoes. No flowers were present the first day, but arrived en masse the following day.

The funeral home where Al Capone's wake was held at 660 West Flagler street. In later years, the funeral home was sold to the Rivero Funeral home. After W.L. Philbrick died, they named the mortuary dept at Miami Dade community College after him.

(Special thanks to Mr. Martin "Marty" Bishop for the info concerning Philbrick's. Mr. Bishop was an intern at the Philbrick's Coral Gables location, and had researched the archived files).

On the second day, thousands of dollars worth of flowers in wreaths, blankets and baskets arrived. There was even a 7 foot cross made of flowers.

The funeral service was planned for the following wednesday Jan.29th at St. Patrick's Roman catholic church where his wife Mae and family regularly attended mass.

There was rumored that employees at the funeral home took some photos of Al in his coffin.The remorse filled employees supposedly told Dr. Phillips who took the photos for safe keeping.

After the funeral, Ralph Capone was still waiting for the city's permit allowing him to transport Al's remains back to Chicago for burial.

On January 30th 1947 Ralph received the permit from the Dade County(Florida) health authorities and at Philbrick's funeral home at apprximately 3:00 AM the workers placed Al's boxed casket in the Philbrick's "Cathederal sided" cadillac hearse. It was named as such for the arch like Cathederal faux side windows made of solid wood. Ralph accompanied the body along with two Rago drivers who took turns for the expected 48 hr drive to Chicago. A decoy empty coffin was placed on a train to Chicago to ward off the press.

The body was to arrive there and given over to the caretaker at Rago's Chapel at 624 N. Western avenue.

The body arrives on Feb.1,1947 where a service at Rago's chapel is given.Notables like Tony Accardo,Willie Heeney,Charlie and Rocco Fischetti (Capone cousins)and Rocco De Grazia were in attendance along with the Capone family.

Al's body was then transported to Mt. Olivet and placed in a vault while work crews worked hard on the frozen ground.It took them 3hrs to dig up Al's resting place alongside his dad and brother. A tent was erected above the burial site to shelter the mourners.The cold and wind did their best that day to keep many mourners away.

The body was removed from the vault on Feb 4,1947 and driven via hearse to the gravesite. The family gathered around along with Al's close pals from the outfit.Theresa Capone had urged Msgr. William J.Gorman to give last rites for burial. St. Columbanus church authorities had accepted, so Msgr Gorman a previous fire dept chaplain who knew the family, did gravesite prayers and last rites.

The casket had a blanket of gardenias topped with a few orchids. Al's family consisting of his wife Mae, their only child Sonny and his wife, along with Al's sister Mafalda and brothers Ralph and Matt stood by while Theresa Al's mom became hysterical.

The weather was extremely cold that day. A tarpaulin was erected to keep the mourner from the cold winds and snooping press photographers. Police also sent their own to spy to find out which known gangsters were in attendance.

Only two undercover policemen were sent to look over the procession.Normally in the old days, many were sent to view faces of the underworld attending such services.(Identification purposes).

Ultimately, it would not be Al's final resting place. After Theresa's passing, all the Capone graves in Mt. Olivet (Salvatore, Gabriele and Alphonse) were dug up and shipped over to Mt. Carmel in Hillside.

The family was fed up of gawkers and vandalism occurring in Mt. Olivet. More digustingly, photos of Gabriele and Salvatore (Frank) were ripped off the monument by some degenerate low life creeps.The same monument was knocked down several times. In sending the bodies to Mt. Carmel, the family left the Monument in Mt. Olivet thinking this would sidetrack future visitors from finding Mt. Carmel.

When there's a will there's a way. People soon found where they were. Sometimes the flat gravestones were covered up with turf to conceal their presence. People visiting Al's grave from around the world began leaving souvenirs such as money, whiskey and beer bottles, cigars, replica plastic guns etc.....

These were signs of respect towards a legendary figure who made his way through history, whether it be good or bad.

People who had shunned Al during his tax trial, suddenly started coming out of the wood work to remember their acquaintances with the big fella. Now everyone wanted to claim their friendly association with the most famous gangster of all time.

In 2008, Ralph Capone Sr.'s (Al Capone's brother "Bottles") ashes were finally returned to the Capone family and interred at Mt. Carmel. He is now reunited with his mom, dad, brothers and sister, but more importantly with his son Ralph Jr.

The Capone family monument today. Such a thing of beauty with the bushes removed. A new planting will be put around it this spring.


	My Al Capone Museum \| home MY AL CAPONE MUSEUM \| F.A.Q.'S \| Al Capone's Personal Telephone \| Al Capone Framed Signature \| Al Capone's Silver Tray \| Interesting items retrieved from Al Capone's Lexington office suite and hallway \| Alton Hotel Relics \| 7244 Prairie Avenue \| The Capone era Cicero, Illinois \| The Four Deuces (2222 South Wabash) \| Al Capone's Bathroom Tile From The Lexington Hotel \| Inside The Lexington Hotel \| Geraldo's Capone Vault Grand Opening \| Lexington's Destruction \| X Marks the Spot magazine \| Capone Magazines and Booklets \| Capone Videos \| Capone Books \| Knick Knacks \| Capone's Chicago \| Chicago photos \| Capone Documents \| Capone Photographs \| Capone Photographs 2 \| Capone Photographs 3 \| My History channel Shoot \| Gravesites \| Gravesites 2 \| Capone the man \| Capone at the Ballpark \| Al Capone's Funeral \| The St. Valentine's Day Massacre \| The Massacre Pt.2 \| Massacre Victim's Stats. \| Massacre News blurbs \| Some Theories on the Valentine Massacre \| Discounted Valentine Massacre theories \| Valentine Killers? \| The St. Valentine's Day Massacre Wall bricks \| The St. Valentine Massacre guns today \| The Adonis Social Club Incident \| When, Where and How did they die? \| Mugshots \| Gangster facts and side stories \| The Obituaries \| Gangster talk \| Gangster Molls \| William Hale Thompson \| Peter Von Frantzius \| The Chicago Typewriter \| Gangster Hitspots \| Mae Capone \| Louise Rolfe \| Alberto Anselmi and Giovanni Scalise \| Frank Parker \| William Niemoth \| Jack Guzik \| Samuel "Golf bag"Hunt \| Jake Lingle \| Frankie Yale \| Samoots Ammatuna \| Jack Zuta \| Edward David Vogel \| Johnny Torrio \| Joe E. 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Binder \| Robert Gallo as Al Capone \| Rick Mattix \| Mr. Joe Walters \| Gangster articles \| Newspapers of the day \| Newspapers part Two \| Newspapers Part Three \| Newspapers Part Four \| The Green Mill \| Colosimo's \| Alcatraz \| Alcatraz Part 2 \| Gangster sites today \| Gangster Sites part 2 \| Dead Gangsters \| Origins of the Scars \| Collecting Al Capone? \| The truth about Al Capone's signature \| Al Capone and other Gangster related books \| Links \| Neat Stuff on Capone \| About me \| Contact Me Al Capone's Funeral (Photo courtesy of Mr. John Cieciel) Al Capone died on Saturday January 25,1947 at approximately 7:30 pm. The news began to circulate around the world. Chicago American January 25,1947 (Mario Gomes collection). After a massive stroke, his family had gathered together in the guest room of his villa and Al was given the last rites by Msgr Barry Williams (St. Patrick's Church,Miami). Minutes later Al passes away. The room Al Capone died in. (by kind permission of Jeff Maycroft). Now the task at hand was to decide when and where would the funeral take place along with the burial.Dr. Kenneth Phillips who had taken care of Al in his syphillitic state conferred with the family and asked them if there was any possiblity of an autopsy being performed on Al's brain for medical purposes.The family unanimously denied the Dr. of this procedure. Al's body was going to the grave in one piece. The body was sent to the Philbrick funeral home where after being embalmed it was placed in the Philbrick Chapel for viewing.The funeral home was Florida's largest at the time.The first day of viewing on Sunday, Jan.26 Mae and Theresa did not attend as both had collapsed at the passing of Al from this world the previous evening.On the first day only the remainder of his family attended along with 35 others who managed to get clearance from the guards posted there. W.L. Philbrick, owner of Philbrick's Funeral home. (Mario Gomes collection) Capone was already dead when this headline came out. Chicago American January 26,1947. (Mario Gomes collection). Al Capone death mask signed by W J.Helmer (It's a Helmer home made novelty) (Mario Gomes collection) The body was placed in a $2,000 massive bronze casket.This casket was a far cry from the extravagant funerals given his friends and enemies during his reign as crime lord in Chicago back in the 20's.The $15,000 caskets made back in the day were no longer available, but Al's family got him the best there was. The Room Al Capone's body occupied a prominent position in the Chapel drawing room.The room was decorated in gray pastel and carpeted in green and furnished with flowery patterned love seats. The Body Al's face and body looked shrunken once placed in the massive bronze $2,000 casket.Capone's body was dressed in a new blue double breasted suit,white shirt,black tie,black silk socks and the classic gangster black and white shoes. No flowers were present the first day, but arrived en masse the following day. The funeral home where Al Capone's wake was held at 660 West Flagler street. In later years, the funeral home was sold to the Rivero Funeral home. After W.L. Philbrick died, they named the mortuary dept at Miami Dade community College after him. (Special thanks to Mr. Martin "Marty" Bishop for the info concerning Philbrick's. Mr. Bishop was an intern at the Philbrick's Coral Gables location, and had researched the archived files). On the second day, thousands of dollars worth of flowers in wreaths, blankets and baskets arrived. There was even a 7 foot cross made of flowers. The funeral service was planned for the following wednesday Jan.29th at St. Patrick's Roman catholic church where his wife Mae and family regularly attended mass. The body was then again returned to the Philbrick Chapel where two bodyguards were stationed 24hrs. There was rumored that employees at the funeral home took some photos of Al in his coffin.The remorse filled employees supposedly told Dr. Phillips who took the photos for safe keeping. Al's last doctor. Dr. Kenneth Phillips (Mario Gomes collection) After the funeral, Ralph Capone was still waiting for the city's permit allowing him to transport Al's remains back to Chicago for burial. On January 30th 1947 Ralph received the permit from the Dade County(Florida) health authorities and at Philbrick's funeral home at apprximately 3:00 AM the workers placed Al's boxed casket in the Philbrick's "Cathederal sided" cadillac hearse. It was named as such for the arch like Cathederal faux side windows made of solid wood. Ralph accompanied the body along with two Rago drivers who took turns for the expected 48 hr drive to Chicago. A decoy empty coffin was placed on a train to Chicago to ward off the press. The body was to arrive there and given over to the caretaker at Rago's Chapel at 624 N. Western avenue. Mrs. and Mr. Albert "Sonny "Capone, at Mt. Olivet for Al's funeral. The body arrives on Feb.1,1947 where a service at Rago's chapel is given.Notables like Tony Accardo,Willie Heeney,Charlie and Rocco Fischetti (Capone cousins)and Rocco De Grazia were in attendance along with the Capone family. Al's body was then transported to Mt. Olivet and placed in a vault while work crews worked hard on the frozen ground.It took them 3hrs to dig up Al's resting place alongside his dad and brother. A tent was erected above the burial site to shelter the mourners.The cold and wind did their best that day to keep many mourners away. Al Capone's original empty grave at Mount Olivet. Low lives stole the photos of Gabriele and Frank. (Photo Courtesy of Author Jenny Floro Khalaf) The body was removed from the vault on Feb 4,1947 and driven via hearse to the gravesite. The family gathered around along with Al's close pals from the outfit.Theresa Capone had urged Msgr. William J.Gorman to give last rites for burial. St. Columbanus church authorities had accepted, so Msgr Gorman a previous fire dept chaplain who knew the family, did gravesite prayers and last rites. Al's remains carried in Mt Olivet cemetary. The casket had a blanket of gardenias topped with a few orchids. Al's family consisting of his wife Mae, their only child Sonny and his wife, along with Al's sister Mafalda and brothers Ralph and Matt stood by while Theresa Al's mom became hysterical. The weather was extremely cold that day. A tarpaulin was erected to keep the mourner from the cold winds and snooping press photographers. Police also sent their own to spy to find out which known gangsters were in attendance. Al capone's encased coffin (Photo supplied by Joe Walters). One of the Fischetti's gave a snarl to one of the photographers at the funeral. Only two undercover policemen were sent to look over the procession.Normally in the old days, many were sent to view faces of the underworld attending such services.(Identification purposes). The heavy vault top was placed over his casket with the words rest in peace. Ultimately, it would not be Al's final resting place. After Theresa's passing, all the Capone graves in Mt. Olivet (Salvatore, Gabriele and Alphonse) were dug up and shipped over to Mt. Carmel in Hillside. Worker installing stone on main monument. The family was fed up of gawkers and vandalism occurring in Mt. Olivet. More digustingly, photos of Gabriele and Salvatore (Frank) were ripped off the monument by some degenerate low life creeps.The same monument was knocked down several times. In sending the bodies to Mt. Carmel, the family left the Monument in Mt. Olivet thinking this would sidetrack future visitors from finding Mt. Carmel. Worker cutting out grassy area to install headstone. When there's a will there's a way. People soon found where they were. Sometimes the flat gravestones were covered up with turf to conceal their presence. People visiting Al's grave from around the world began leaving souvenirs such as money, whiskey and beer bottles, cigars, replica plastic guns etc..... (Courtesy Mr.Randy Miller) These were signs of respect towards a legendary figure who made his way through history, whether it be good or bad. People who had shunned Al during his tax trial, suddenly started coming out of the wood work to remember their acquaintances with the big fella. Now everyone wanted to claim their friendly association with the most famous gangster of all time. January 29,1947. (Mario Gomes collection). In 2008, Ralph Capone Sr.'s (Al Capone's brother "Bottles") ashes were finally returned to the Capone family and interred at Mt. Carmel. He is now reunited with his mom, dad, brothers and sister, but more importantly with his son Ralph Jr. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Joe Walters) The Capone family monument today. Such a thing of beauty with the bushes removed. A new planting will be put around it this spring. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Joe Walters) First Posted October 2009