Gaudreau Brothers Mourned at Funeral

New Jersey natives and hockey players, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, were honored at their joint memorial service on Monday, September 9.

The service was held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, PA, where friends, family and fellow NHL players, including Sean Monahan and Kevin Hayes, gathered to remember the lives of the two brothers.

The Gaudreau brothers died on August 29th in a car accident when they were struck by a driver who was presumed to be under the influence in Oldmans Township. The two were riding bicycles when the driver, Sean Higgins, hit the brothers in his Jeep Cherokee. According to a probable cause affidavit signed with the Salem County Superior Court, Higgins shared that he drank five to six beers before driving.

The incident happened the night before the brothers were expected to attend their sister’s wedding. At Monday’s funeral, Matthew and Johnny’s wives shared kind words about their husbands, remembering their lives and the legacies they leave behind.

In a heartfelt eulogy, Johnny’s wife, Meredith, disclosed that she is nine weeks pregnant with her third child, mentioning that it is a “blessing and so special despite these difficult circumstances.” She also expressed her gratitude for Johnny, saying that “in less than three years of marriage, we’ve created a family of five. It doesn’t even sound possible, but I look at it as the ultimate blessing. How lucky am I to be the mother of John’s three babies? Referring to her children, she vocalized that they “. . . have the best daddy in the world.”

For the past 11 seasons, Johnny played for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, in total scoring 243 goals and gaining 743 points.

Madeline, Matthew’s wife, shared an emotional speech, exclaiming that she “feel[s] numb, angry, sad, blessed all at once.” Matthew played professionally for five years with the ECHL and AHL. Madeline also mentioned that she is expecting her first child, a son, with Matthew in December. Matthew was blissfully aware of the news and happily awaiting the arrival of his son.

The brothers played hockey together at Boston College, with Johnny postponing his NHL career back by one year so he could play with Matthew on the ice. They shared an unbreakable bond, as echoed by Meredith who gushed that “John would not have been able to live a day without his brother.”