Carol Bongiovi, Jon Bon Jovi’s mother, died three days before her 83rd birthday. After Carol’s passing on Tuesday at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey, Jon, 62, shared heartfelt words about her.

“Our mother was a force to be reckoned with, her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family,” Jon told PEOPLE. “She will be greatly missed.” Carol, who was once a Playboy bunny, founded the fan club for her son’s band. In 1959, she joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where she met John Bongiovi, Sr., her future husband.

They raised their children in Sayreville, New Jersey, before moving to Holmdel, New Jersey, where Carol remained until her death. Carol’s funeral will be private, and organized by Holmdel Funeral Home. She is survived by her husband of 63 years and their three children, Jon, Anthony, and Matthew.

Jon has previously shared that his parents provided “incredible support” during his childhood as he pursued his dream of becoming a singer. He told The Big Issue in November 2020, “Even if you weren’t good at your craft, you could work on it if you thought you were.”

“As I got older, I saw what a great gift my parents gave me. They truly believed that John F. Kennedy was telling them to go to the moon. ‘Of course, you can go to the moon.’ John, just go. I went there.” The musician recounted how his parents would take him to shows when he was 17, allowing him to follow his dreams.“They were always supportive of me, which in retrospect, was incredible,” he said. “Because I could get home at one or two in the morning and still have to be at school at eight o’clock.”

“They just said, show up on time for school, you know that is your responsibility, but pursue your dream.” Jon is married to his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley. They have four children: Stephanie, 31, and three sons, Jesse, Jake, and Romeo. The Sun reported that Jake married Stranger Things actress Millie Bobby Brown in a small, private ceremony in May 2024. Both Jon and Millie’s parents attended the intimate wedding. Earlier, Jon expressed his excitement about the wedding to The Sun, saying, “My grandchildren will be more English than Italian or any of my other roots! That’s crazy, right?” “All of a sudden, your kids are married and talking to you about having grandchildren… wow! This is the longest chapter in my book.”

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