Mother Gotti dead at 96

NEW YORK, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Philomena "Fannie" Gotti, the mother of five members of the Gambino crime family, has died at a Long Island, N.Y., nursing home. She was 96.

Family members said Gotti died of natural causes, the New York Post reported Thursday.

"Dapper Don" John Gotti's widow, Victoria, called the family matriarch an "amazing lady," saying she was "One of those strong, strong old-timers."

The announcement of Philomena Gotti's death came one day before her grandson, John "Junior" Gotti, is to be arraigned on murder charges in Tampa, Fla.

Fannie Gotti, a Bronx native, was married to construction worker John Joseph Gotti. She gave birth to 13 children in 16 years, the newspaper reported.

Her fifth child, John, violently took control of the Gambino crime family by assassinating reigning mafia boss Paul Castellano in 1985.