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A Force to Be Reckoned With
Jon Bon Jovi paid a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Carol Bongiovi, who passed away at the age of 83 on Tuesday (July 9). Carol Bongiovi, the matriarch of the Bongiovi family, died at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey, just three days shy of her 84th birthday.
“Our mother was a force to be reckoned with, her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family. She will be greatly missed,” expressed Bon Jovi, 62, in a statement. Jon Bon Jovi, whose real name is John Francis Bongiovi Jr., has two younger brothers, Anthony and Matthew Bongiovi. Carol Bongiovi was a former Playboy playmate and a florist. She was married to John Francis Bongiovi Sr., a barber and Marine veteran, and she also managed her son’s fan club for many years.
An obituary from the Holmdel Funeral Home revealed that Carol enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1959, where she met her future husband. After their military service, the couple moved to Sayreville, New Jersey, and later to Holmdel, where they raised their family.
Affectionately known as “Mom Jovi” among fans, Carol made a cameo appearance alongside her husband in Jon Bon Jovi’s 2021 “Story of Love” video. In the video, Jon played an acoustic guitar in front of a wall of family photos, including a large black-and-white photo of his parents with their eldest son. He sang about familial love, covering powerful themes such as parental pride and lifelong support.
During a 2020 interview with the Big Issue, Bon Jovi spoke warmly about the lessons he learned from his parents. He appreciated their unwavering support, even after a less-than-stellar first talent show performance as a teen. “What I got from my parents was the ability to make the dream reality. They always instilled that confidence in their kids, which was incredibly valuable,” he said. Bon Jovi reflected on how his parents’ belief in his potential allowed him to keep improving his craft, emphasizing the importance of their encouraging mindset.
Carol Bongiovi was born Carol Sharkey on July 12, 1940, in Erie, Pennsylvania. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, their three sons and daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren.
Source: Holmdel Funeral Home
