Sarah Francesca Chianese, Sopranos actor Dominic Chianese’s daughter, has died at the age of 58.
Her sister Rebecca Chianese shared the news with Sopranos Instagram fan account sopranosaficionado, revealing Chianese died ‘peacefully’ with her father by her side until the very end.
Sarah – who was a wedding and events caterer – died on April 15 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma; a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the brain or spinal cord.
The tribute read: ‘Sarah Francesca Chianese, daughter of Dominic Chianese, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 15th.
‘She battled glioblastoma and was only 58 years old. Her father stayed by her side til the very end.
‘Sarah was a bright light in this world, she wanted everyone to live their happiest life and smile when they think of her.’
Talking to People, Sarah’s brother Dominic Jr. said Sarah would be remembered for her ‘kindness’ which he called ‘one of the greatest human attributes’.
He said Sarah ‘knew how to throw a party because she had a catering business. I just think that that’s such a great quality, if somebody knows how to throw a party.’
‘She was dedicated to her craft, like a real artist when it came to that,’ he said of her catering business.
He also said her father Dominic – famously portrayed Tony’s uncle Junior on The Sopranos – was in Colorado with Sarah at the end of her life.
‘I would just like to say that my father was there in her final days to support her in her transition. It was important to her and him both,’ he said.
In a eulogy shared on Sarah’s Instagram page, her son remembered her as conducting herself with ‘astounding grace and kindness’ through her diagnosis, which was ‘never going to be survivable’.
‘As I scrambled – making calls, talking with doctors – she settled in. In stillness and confidence, she made her peace with the world and with God. She never lamented,’ he said.
‘Never woe is me. Never complained. She hyper-focused on practical things – calling friends, deciding what snacks she wanted in the house.’
He also praised her for being ‘one of the most accomplished women I’ve ever known,’ adding: ‘Whether it was reclaiming and restoring old barns, working in a law firm in her early twenties, or dominating the Hudson Valley with her catering company in her late fifties, she got the job done – always in record time, with unreal competence.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.