Mae Capone was the wife of the notorious gangster Al Capone, who ruled the Chicago underworld during the Prohibition era. She was a loyal and devoted spouse, who stood by her husband through his rise and fall, his crimes and trials, his imprisonment and illness. But how did Mae Capone die, and what was her life like after Al Capone’s death?
Contents
Early Life and Marriage
Mae Capone was born Mary Josephine Coughlin on April 11, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the daughter of Irish immigrants, who worked as a laborer and a housekeeper. She attended school until she started working as a sales clerk
She met Al Capone, who was two years younger than her, at a party or through their church. They married on December 30, 1918, at the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in Brooklyn. Three weeks before their wedding, Mae gave birth to their only son, Albert Francis “Sonny” Capone
Mae Capone was a devout Catholic, who hoped to raise her son in a respectable and law-abiding manner. She was not involved in Al Capone’s racketeering business, and was unaware of the extent of his criminal activities. She also suffered from his infidelity, as he had affairs with other women
Moving to Chicago and Facing the Law
In 1919, Al Capone moved to Chicago to work for Johnny Torrio, a crime boss who ran a bootlegging and gambling empire. Mae Capone followed him, and they lived in various hotels and apartments. They also bought a house in Cicero, Illinois, where they hosted lavish parties and entertained celebrities and politicians
Mae Capone tried to maintain a normal and respectable life, despite the constant threats and violence that surrounded her husband. She socialized with other gangsters’ wives, and enrolled her son in a private school. She also visited her family in New York, and took vacations in Florida and California
However, she could not escape the legal troubles that plagued Al Capone. In 1929, he was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, and sentenced to one year in prison. He was released after nine months, but soon faced another charge: tax evasion. In 1931, he was convicted and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was sent to the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, and later transferred to the infamous Alcatraz Island
Mae Capone remained faithful to her husband, and visited him regularly in prison. She also hired lawyers and appealed for his release, claiming that he was suffering from a mental and physical illness. She was partly right: Al Capone had contracted syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease, when he was a young man. He had left it untreated, and it had progressed to neurosyphilis, a condition that affects the brain and nervous system
Al Capone’s Release and Death
In 1939, Al Capone was released from prison on parole, due to his deteriorating health. He was taken to a hospital in Baltimore, where he was diagnosed with neurosyphilis. He was then moved to his estate in Palm Island, Florida, where he spent the rest of his life under the care of his wife and family
Mae Capone nursed her husband, who had lost most of his mental and physical abilities. He suffered from hallucinations, paranoia, confusion, and memory loss. He also had strokes, heart attacks, and seizures. He was reduced to the mental capacity of a 12-year-old child
On January 25, 1947, Al Capone died in his bed, at the age of 48. The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia, a complication of syphilis. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago, next to his father and brother
Mae Capone’s Later Years and Death
After Al Capone’s death, Mae Capone inherited his estate, which was worth about $600,000. She also received a monthly pension of $250 from the mob, as a token of respect for her husband. She lived a quiet and modest life, avoiding the public eye and the media. She also changed her name to Mae Coughlin, to distance herself from her husband’s notorious reputation
She devoted herself to her son, Sonny, who had also contracted syphilis from his parents. He had a hearing impairment, and underwent several surgeries to treat his ear infections. He also struggled with alcoholism and depression. He married three times, and had four children. He worked as a tire salesman, a restaurant owner, and a bookkeeper. He died in 2004, at the age of 85
Mae Capone also maintained contact with her relatives and friends, who described her as a kind, generous, and loving person. She was interested in gardening, reading, and music. She also donated money to various charities and causes, especially those related to children and education
Mae Capone died on April 16, 1986, at the age of 89, at a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida. She was buried in Florida, next to her husband. She was the last surviving member of the original Capone family
Conclusion
Mae Capone was a woman who lived a remarkable and tragic life. She was the wife of one of the most infamous gangsters in history, who loved her but also betrayed her. She was the mother of a son who inherited a disease that caused him pain and suffering. She was the witness of a turbulent and violent era, that shaped the history and culture of America. She was the survivor of a disease that killed her husband and almost killed her. She was the epitome of loyalty, devotion, and courage. She was Mae Capone, the cause of death of a gangster’s wife
