Of course the family is alive, did you not hear the lame explanation given by the shows producers? It was (as lame as this sounds) the audience who was "whacked" hence the fade to black at the end. A totally crap ending but i suppose it leaves room for a film in the future i guess.
Haha, no way Johnny Cakes. The wiseguy going into the bathroom behind Tony was way too Godfather to ignore. The two moulians might have been in on it too. Paulie definitely flipped and set 'em up. Hesch might have played a part too - Godfather again.
It was "the end of the family," get it? And all of them had it coming. I thought it was a great ending. I hadn't heard that "explanation." Besides, the audience was never a character like in "The Office" or something. It doesn't make any sense. That might be what they're saying but it's not what happened. Go watch season 6+ again.