Funeral for Montreal’s “Last Godfather” to Be Held Today

Police will be hoping to catch a glimpse of the mafia’s top dogs today at Nicolo Rizzuto’s funeral.

The 86-year-old Sicilian-born don was murdered last week by an assassin who fired a bullet through the rear window of his Montreal home. As any fan of the Sopranos knows, police often use mob funerals to photograph and catalogue crime family bosses, and agents armed with telephoto lenses are expected to be out in full force today at the church in Montreal’s Little Italy neighbourhood where Rizzuto’s memorial is being held. They may not have much luck updating their files on the Rizzuto clan however, as the Mafia has become much more cautious in the wake of a massive dragnet launched by police in Québec in 2006. Hundreds, if not thousands, of mourners are expected to attend.