According to family spokesperson Heidi Hanni, within 30 days, the family of former Valley Congressman Jim Traficant will announce a special memorial service to honor him. Hanni tells 21 News the public is invited.


A private service has already been held for Traficant, who passed away Saturday morning at the age of 73. Family spokesperson Heidi Hanni says Traficant's body was cremated.


Hanni also said that Traficant was taken to Hospice of the Mahoning Valley on Friday, where he passed away on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.


A tractor overturned on Traficant last Tuesday as he was pulling the vintage vehicle into the barn at the family farm. Thousands flocked to social media over the weekend to offer their condolences to the family and to share their memories of the controversial and flamboyant ex-congressman.


Traficant spent 16 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to that, he was Mahoning County Sheriff. He was expelled from Congress in 2003, becoming the first congressman to be expelled since the Civil War. He served 7 years in federal prison for various corruption charges.


Traficant ran for his former seat in 2010 and lost. Since the defeat, he's kept a relatively low profile.


Over the weekend, major national news outlets reported on his passing.


The family respectfully requests monetary donations be made in Traficant's name to Hospice of the Valley, Attn. Liz McGarry, 5190 Market St., Boardman, OH 44512.


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