Just days before his 83rd birthday, Carol Bongiovi, Jon Bon Jovi’s beloved mother, passed away. Jon, who is 62, shared his grief and admiration for his mother after her death on Tuesday at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey.

Jon told PEOPLE, “Our mother was a force to be reckoned with; her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family. We will miss her terribly.”

Carol Bongiovi was not just a devoted mother; she was also a former Playboy bunny and a passionate supporter of her son’s band. She even started the fan club for Bon Jovi, showing her dedication to Jon’s music career.

She met her future husband, John Bongiovi, Sr., after joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1959. The couple eventually settled in Sayreville, New Jersey, where they raised their children. Later, they moved to Holmdel, New Jersey, where Carol lived until her passing.

Carol’s private funeral will be handled by Holmdel Funeral Home. She leaves behind her three children—Jon, Anthony, and Matthew—as well as her 63-year-old husband.

Jon has always spoken warmly about the support his parents gave him during his early career. In an interview with The Big Issue in November 2020, he said, “Even if you weren’t good at your craft, you could work on it if you thought you were.” He added, “As I grew older, I realized how wonderful my parents’ gift to me was.”

Jon fondly recalled how his parents took him to concerts when he was just seventeen. “They were always there for me, which was amazing looking back,” he said. “Because I could have to be at school at eight o’clock and get home at one or two in the morning. They just told me to go to school on time, you know that’s my responsibility, but follow your dreams.”

Jon’s high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, is now his wife. Together, they have three sons—Jesse, Jake, and Romeo—and a 31-year-old daughter, Stephanie.

In May 2024, Jon’s son Jake married Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown in a small, private ceremony.

Jon expressed his excitement about the wedding to The Sun, saying, “My grandchildren will have more English ancestry than Italian or any other heritage I may have.

That must be absurd, right? The musician screamed. ‘Your kids are married and talking to you about having grandchildren all of a sudden? Wow!’ In my book, this is the longest chapter.”

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