Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau's Pregnant Widows Promise to Honor Each Other's Husbands 'Hand in Hand' at Funeral

Mar. 15, 2025

(L-R) Madeline Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau; Johnny Gaudreau and Meredith Gaudreau.Photo:Matthew Gaudreau/Instagram, Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram

Matthew Gaudreau/Instagram, Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram

At an emotional ceremony on Monday,Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s widows both shared tearful tributes to their late husbands and vowed support for each other and their children.

Johnny, the 31-year-old NHL star, and his brother Matthew, 29, were killed on Aug. 29 when an alleged drunk driver crashed into them while riding their bikes along in Oldmans Township, New Jersey the night before their sister Katie’s wedding.

Both brothers’ wives — Johnny’s widow Meredith Gaudreau, and Matthew’s widow Madeline Gaudreau —are pregnant.

Near the end ofher speechat St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Penn., Madeline turned to Meredith and addressed her sister-in-law directly: “Meredith, I am so sorry that we will forever share this bond,” Madeline said. “The boys could not have picked stronger women as wives and mothers of their children.”

Matthew and Madeline Gaudreau.Matthew Gaudreau/Instagram

Matthew Gaudreau/Instagram

Madeline continued: “There is one person in this world that knows the exact feeling I am feeling, and that is you, and for that I am sorry. The loss of a husband, a father, our comfort. I promise I will always be there for you and the kids and that we will honor the lives of our husbands together, hand in hand, alongside their family and friends.”

Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player John Gaudreau’s coffin is carried in to the church during his and his brother Matthew’s funeral at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church.AP Photo/Matt Rourke

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

During her speech, Madeline said, “this last week has felt like I’ve been trapped in a nightmare I can’t wake up from.”

“I feel numb, angry, sad, and blessed all at once,” Matthew’s widow said. “Some days the thought of this new reality is debilitating, but mostly I just miss Matt.”

Both Meredith and Madeline recalled how they first met their husbands — Madeline and Matthew meeting through a mutual friend in Omaha, Neb., before doing four years long distance in college, while Johnny and Meredith first met when they became neighbors in 2018, falling in love almost immediately.

The widows both shared stories about how close Matthew and Johnny were, with Madeline noting how the Gaudreau brothers slept in the same bedroom together until college.

“And neither of them wanted that to change,” she said, drawing laughs from the families, friends, teammates, and NHL officials in attendance.

“John took care of Matty, and Matty would take care of John,” Madeline said. “To know both of them was to truly love them. It was impossible not to fall in love with them. Meredith said it best, you do not hear one name without the other. They were so extremely proud of each other.”

The remains of Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player John Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau depart following their funeral at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church.AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Madeline also urged everyone to never drink and drive. “Call a ride,” Matthew’s widow said. “Please do not put another family through this torture.”

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Johnny and Matthew were in town to serve as groomsmen fortheir sister Katie’s wedding, set to take place the next day, which has been postponed.

source: people.com