Abe Vigoda mourned at The Godfather-themed funeral

The Godfather star Abe Vigoda was mourned by friends and family at a funeral themed around his famous role as a movie mobster.
The 94 year old, who played veteran gangster Salvatore Tessio in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 classic, passed away in New Jersey last Tuesday (26Jan16), and his loved ones gathered in New York City on Sunday (31Jan16) to pay their respects.
The funeral at Riverside Memorial Chapel in the Big Apple was attended by around 200 mourners, including comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who gave a eulogy.
Vigoda’s The Godfather co-star Al Pacino was unable to attend the service, but sent a note paying tribute to his old friend.
“I always loved Abe,” the message read. “He was there at the start for me. He was (a) gentle kind soul, which he projected in his art with such eloquence and of course his simple timing could not be improved upon. Anyone who knew him just loved him. My memory of him is a vivid one. May he rest in peace.”
The order of service featured a picture of Vigoda as his The Godfather character along with one of his most famous lines: “Can you get me off the hook… for old times’ sake?” and the movie’s theme music was played as the coffin was carried out of the church, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six.
The service was followed by a private burial at Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York.