Jon Bon Jovi’s Mom Carol Bongiovi Dies at 83: ‘A Force to Be Reckoned With’
Carol Bongiovi died on Tuesday, July 9, three days short of her 84th birthday
RON GALELLA/RON GALELLA COLLECTION VIA GETTY
Jon Bon Jovi’s mother, Carol A. Bongiovi, has died. She was 83.
Carol died on Tuesday, July 9, three days short of her 84th birthday, at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, N.J., PEOPLE confirms.
“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, 62, told PEOPLE in a statement on behalf of the family.
MARC SEROTA/GETTY
Inside Bon Jovi’s 40-Year Career: From Their Big Break in the ’80s to Where They Stand Today
Aside from being the founder of her son’s eponymous band’s fan club, Carol was an entrepreneur operating several businesses. The Erie, Penn. native and Playboy bunny enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1959, where she served her country honorably and met her future husband, John Bongiovi, Sr.
The couple later moved to Sayreville, N.J., where she and her husband raised their family. They later settled in Holmdel, N.J., where she resided until her death.
While speaking with The Big Issue in November 2020, Bon Jovi credited his parents with giving him “the ability to make the dream reality.”
THE BONGIOVI FAMILY
20 Incredible Throwback Photos of Jon Bon Jovi
“Even if you truly weren’t any good at your craft, if you believed you were, you could work on it,” he said. “As I got older I realized that was a great gift that I got from my folks. They truly believed in the John Kennedy mantra of going to the moon. ‘Yeah, of course you can go to the moon. Just go, Johnny.’ And there I went.”
The musician recalled how his parents supported his dreams by allowing him to take gigs when he was 17.
“They were always supportive of me, which in retrospect, was incredible. Because I could get home at one or two in the morning, and have to still be in school by eight o’clock. They just said, show up on time for school, you know that is your responsibility, but pursue your dream,” he said.
JOHN NACION/GETTY
Carol is survived by her husband of 63 years, their three sons and daughters-in-law: Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi, Anthony and Nina Yang Bongiovi, and Matthew and Desiree Bongiovi, as well as her eight loving grandchildren.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
All funeral services will be private. Holmdel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
News
‘He’s an angry boy’: As Prince Harry’s faux-royal tour ends, why despite his jollity and cheeky dancing, one pal claims the Duke’s American dream ‘hasn’t turned out the way he wanted’… and shouldn’t expect an invitation when Wills takes the throne
‘He’s an angry boy’: As Prince Harry’s faux-royal tour ends, why despite his jollity and cheeky dancing, one pal claims the Duke’s American dream ‘hasn’t turned out the way he wanted’… and shouldn’t expect an invitation when Wills takes the…
“Meghan Markle Stuns in Colombia: Princess of Sussex Wows Crowd with Fluent Spanish While Prince Harry Struggles with Earpiece”
“Meghan Markle Stuns in Colombia: Princess of Sussex Wows Crowd with Fluent Spanish While Prince Harry Struggles with Earpiece” Meghan Markle showed off her ability to speak Spanish as she addressed the audience during her ‘Afro women and power’ talk in…
“It’s what I went through…”: Rob Lowe praised Taylor Swift’s fame, saying it is far more intense than what he experienced during his ’80s heyday
“It’s what I went through…”: Rob Lowe praised Taylor Swift’s fame, saying it is far more intense than what he experienced during his ’80s heyday Rob Lowe has some perspective on what Taylor Swift is going through right now. In the 1980s he…
How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their long-distance relationship work – as NFL star’s secret to dating success is revealed
How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make their long-distance relationship work – as NFL star’s secret to dating success is revealed As Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift enter year No 2 of their relationship, finding consistent ways to make their long-distance romance survive is…
Taylor Swift shows her love for Travis Kelce at London Eras show
Taylor Swift shows her love for Travis Kelce at London Eras show Taylor Swift subtly showed her love for boyfriend, Travis Kelce, while taking the stage for her first of five performances in London at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. As she returned to…
EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Swift tearfully reveals her parents are in attendance for her second Wembley show as she performs London Boy for the FIRST TIME on her Eras Tour after a three-minute standing ovation from fans..
EXCLUSIVE: Taylor Swift tearfully reveals her parents are in attendance for her second Wembley show as she performs London Boy for the FIRST TIME on her Eras Tour after a three-minute standing ovation from fans.. Taylor Swift tearfully revealed her parents…
End of content
No more pages to load