Late NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau's Sister-in-Law Promises to 'Take Care' of His Kids and Wife 'Forever'

Mar. 15, 2025

Meredith and Johnny Gaudreau with their children Johnny and Noa.Photo:Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram

Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram

Johnny Gaudreau’s family is continuing to honor the late NHL star following his tragic death last week.

Over the weekend, the 31-year-old athlete’s sister-in-law Lily Morrispenned a moving tributeto him on Instagram, just days after he and his 29-year-old brother Matthew werekilled in a biking accidenton Aug. 29.

“I love you, John. You are and always will be my amazing brother,” Morris captioned a string of photos, including some of Johnny with his children — daughter Noa, who turns 2 in October, and son Johnny, 7 months — and on his wedding day to wife Meredith in 2021.

“Cannot put into words how grateful I am to have spent the last year living with you. Best decision I’ve ever made. Nothing I wouldn’t do to have one more day of baking you cookies, watching a crime documentary, and having a sauna jam sesh together,” Morris continued. “I’ll see you again for more deal or no deal and word search races that I will never beat you in. I promise to take care of your babies and Mer forever.”

Brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.Richard T Gagnon/Getty

Richard T Gagnon/Getty

Morris, who signed off her post as “Aunt Luwally,” also shared multiple photos in remembrance of her late brother-in-law, including a selfie of them smiling together, some wedding day snaps of Johnny and his wife Meredith, and a couple of pictures showing Johnny spending quality time with his children — both on the ice and during a sunny day on the water. She alsoposted a videoon her Instagram Stories of Johnny waving a towel around at a soccer game and called him “the definition of a good time.”

The late hockey star shares his two children with his wife Meredith, with whom he tied the knot with in Philadelphia on Sept. 4, 2021.

PEOPLE confirmed last week thatJohnny and his younger brother diedin a biking accident in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, close to their hometown of Salem Count. The two were in town to participate in their sister Katie Gaudreau’s wedding on Aug. 30 and were listed as groomsmen for the ceremony according to thewedding website.

Johnny Gaudreau plays at the Nationwide Arena on November 27, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio.Jason Mowry/Getty

Jason Mowry/Getty

Other members of Johnny’s family have paid tribute to him and Matthew, including Meredith, who wrote about theclose bondthe brothers shared in an Aug. 31 post.

“Everyone wanted to be around them, including me,” she added. “I would sit back and watch John genuinely love his time with his brother.”

Paying tribute to Johnny as a father and partner in two additional Instagram posts, Meredith thanked her late husband for"the best years of my life."

“Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours. I love you so so much,” she wrote. “You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever.”

source: people.com