Erie, Pa. (WJET/WFXP) — Carol Bongiovi, the mother of rocker Jon Bon Jovi, has died at 83.
Her family said Bongiovi passed away Tuesday at the Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J. Her death comes only three days before her 84th birthday.
Bongiovi was not only the mother of a rock star but also a U.S. Marine and an entrepreneur. She was born and raised in Erie, Pa. After she and her husband were discharged from the Marines, the couple moved to Sayreville, N.J., where she gave birth to their son Jon in 1962.
Jon Bon Jovi released a statement saying, "Our mother was a force to be reckoned with; her spirit and can-do attitude shaped this family. She will be greatly missed."
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, John Bongiovi Sr., her three sons and their spouses, and her eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be private, and the family is asking for privacy during this time.