Jon Bon Jovi’s Mother, Carol Bongiovi, Dies at 83

Jon Bon Jovi’s mother, Carol Bongiovi, has passed away.

Bongiovi died Tuesday at Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey, just three days shy of her 84th birthday, according to an obituary shared by Bon Jovi’s representatives.

“Our mother was a force to be reckoned with, her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family. She will be greatly missed,” Bon Jovi said in an emailed statement Wednesday.

Carol Bongiovi was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a serial entrepreneur, founder of her son’s fan club, and a former Playboy Bunny. Originally from Erie, Pennsylvania, she met Bon Jovi’s father, John Bongiovi Sr., while they were both serving in the Marines. The couple enjoyed a marriage that spanned 63 years and eventually relocated to New Jersey, where they lived together until her death.

Photos of the Bongiovi family were featured in Bon Jovi’s 2021 music video, “Story of Love.”

Over the years, Bon Jovi has credited his parents for nurturing his ability to dream big.

“What I got from my parents was the ability to make the dream reality,” Bon Jovi told the Big Issue in 2020. “Even if you truly weren’t any good at your craft, if you believed you were, you could work on it.”

Carol Bongiovi is survived by her husband John Bongiovi, three sons—Jon Bon Jovi, Anthony Bongiovi, and Matthew Bongiovi—and eight grandchildren, including the recently married Jake Bongiovi.

Jon Bon Jovi says Millie Bobby Brown “looked gorgeous” during her wedding to his son Jake Bongiovi.

Bon Jovi enthusiastically shared details about his son’s wedding to Millie Bobby Brown in May, telling BBC’s “The One Show” that the couple was doing “great” and “absolutely fantastic.”

“The bride looked gorgeous, and Jake is happy as can be,” Bon Jovi noted in a clip from the show that was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It’s true.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carol Bongiovi, Jon Bon Jovi’s mother, dies at 83