Funeral arrangements finalized for Buddy Cianci

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Family, friends and the public will soon bid a final goodbye to the late Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci.

The official obituary for Providence’s longest-serving mayor was posted Wednesday on Nardolillo Funeral Home’s website. Cianci died last Thursday at the age of 74.

The obituary states public visitation will be held at Providence City Hall this weekend.

According to Cianci’s longtime press secretary Beryl Kenyon, Cianci’s body will lie in repose in front of the mayor’s office from noon until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Those wishing to pay their respects to Cianci should enter City Hall through the Washington Street door.

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On the following Monday, Cianci’s casket will be carried down the front steps of City Hall at approximately 8 a.m. A horse-drawn carriage will bring Cianci’s remains to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, where a funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m.

Cianci’s casket will be accompanied by the Providence Police Department’s Mounted Command, which was instituted by Cianci. The procession will travel from City Hall to Weybosset Street, passing the Providence Performing Arts Center, to Broad Street, before arriving at the cathedral.

Bishop Thomas Tobin will preside over Cianci’s Mass of Christian burial.

At approximately 11:15 a.m., the procession will leave the cathedral and head for St. Ann’s Cemetery in Cranston. At the request of Cianci’s family, burial services will be private.

The procession will travel to Atwells Avenue and along the length of Federal Hill. The procession will also travel through Olneyville and Silver Lake before arriving in Cranston.

The following will serve as pallbearers: Cianci’s nephews Dr. Jay Turchetta, Todd Turchetta and Dr. Brad Turchetta, former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., Sgt. Steven Courville of the Providence Police Department; former head of the city’s communications department Manuel Vieira, former chief of staff Artin Coloian, former personal assistant Robert Lovell, former director of constituent affairs Scott Millard, and former member of the mayor’s staff Rick Simone.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations in Buddy’s memory may be made to the Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr. Library and Research Center, P.O. Box 6184, Providence, RI 02940.

Gov. Gina Raimondo ordered state flags lowered during the funeral period to honor Cianci.