Days before her 83rd birthday, Jon Bon Jovi’s mother, Carol Bongiovi, sadly passed away. Jon, who is now 62, shared his deep sorrow and admiration for his mother following her death on Tuesday at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Speaking about Carol, Jon told PEOPLE, “Our mother was a force to be reckoned with; her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family.” He added, “We will miss her terribly.”
Carol had a remarkable life. Before becoming a major supporter of her son’s music career, she was a Playboy bunny. She even started the fan club for Bon Jovi. Carol met her future husband, John Bongiovi, Sr., after she joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1959. The couple moved to Sayreville, New Jersey, where they raised their three children: Jon, Anthony, and Matthew. Later, they settled in Holmdel, New Jersey, where Carol lived until she passed away.
Her private funeral will be arranged by Holmdel Funeral Home. Jon, his siblings, and their 63-year-old father will deeply miss Carol.
Jon often talked about the incredible support his parents gave him when he was a young musician. 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 reflected, “As I grew older, I realized how wonderful my parents’ gift to me was.”
Jon fondly remembered how his parents supported his dreams. “They genuinely believed John F. Kennedy was directing them to travel to the moon,” Jon recalled with a chuckle. “You can go to the moon, of course. Just go, John. I visited that place.”
When Jon was 17, his parents would take him to concerts and let him perform at events. “They were always there for me, which was amazing looking back,” he said. “Because I had to be at school at eight o’clock and get home at one or two in the morning.”
He added, “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 was thrilled about the wedding and shared his excitement with The Sun before the event.
“My grandchildren will have more English ancestry than Italian or any other heritage I may have. That must be absurd, right?” he exclaimed. “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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