Jon Bon Jovi’s Beloved Mother, Carol, Passes at Age 83

Jon Bon Jovi’s beloved mother, Carol Bongiovi, passed away Tuesday at the age of 83.

Bongiovi died at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, just three days before her July 12 birthday. No cause of death was given.

“Our mother was a force to be reckoned with,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, 62, told People in a statement on behalf of his family. “Her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family. She will be greatly missed.”

Born Carol Sharkey in Erie, Penn., the former Marine, entrepenuer, florist and Playboy Bunny founded the official fan club for her son’s rock band, Bon Jovi, in the 1980s. Known affectionately by fans as “Mrs. B.,” Bongiovi was her son’s biggest supporter, first buying him an acoustic guitar at age 7 and encouraging him to follow his dreams.

“Even if you truly weren’t any good at your craft, if you believed you were, you could work on it,” Bon Jovi told The Big Issue of his parents, who met in the Marines in the 50s. “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.”

He continued: “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.”

Surviving is her husband of 63 years, John Bongiovi, Sr. along with three sons and daughters -in-laws, Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi of Middletown, NJ;  Anthony and Nina Yang Bongiovi of Los Angeles, CA; Matthew and Desiree Bongiovi of Holmdel, NJ; as well as her eight loving grandchildren.

All funeral services will be private.  Holmdel Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. To leave a message of condolence please visit Mrs. Bongiovi’s page of tributes at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com.