Gangster's Paradise

For gangsters, the best way to show the love of one another during a time of mourning, is with flowers… a lot of them. At funerals, the room is typically filled from floor to ceiling with flowers, but these are not your average arrangements. Over the top installations with the most expensive blooms all attempt to out-do one another.  Some spell words about the deceased and some form symbols- like John Gotti's hearts, playing cards, race horses and Yankee's signs. We love this extravagant display of beauty and sentiment from men who are often strangers to expressions of emotion.

Here are 10 of our favorite gangster funeral flower arrangements.

John Gotti's funeral arrangements

Part of John Gotti's funeral procession

Thomas Curtis' floral tribute for his notorious armed robbery

Vito Rizzuto's hearse arrangement

Floral tribute from friends and family for Charlie Richardson

Cars covered in flowers for the procession after funeral services for Agostino Contrera

Gus Winkler's floral adorned casket

Reggie Kray's hearse was covered with flowers spelling "Free At Last"

Ronnie Kray's carriage hearse 

David Byrne's funeral procession included a remote control car adorned in blue flowers