NHL star Johnny Gaudreau’s widow Meredith has revealed she is pregnant with their third child, making the announcement while delivering a gut-wrenching eulogy at his funeral.
Johnny and his younger brother Matthew died last month after being struck by a suspected drunk driver while they were riding bikes.
The crash happened one day before they were supposed to be groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding, while Matthew and his wife Madeline had already announced their pregnancy.
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Johnny and Matthew were farewelled together in Pennsylvania on Monday (local time) — having been inseparable in life, their coffins were placed side by side in church.
“Everything was always John and Matty,” Meredith said.
“I know John would not be able to live a day without his brother. He loved him so much.”
Meredith spoke for more than 30 minutes in a eulogy filled with tears, laughter and the most telling reminder of what has been lost.
“John and I had the best six months as a family of four. These will forever be the best six months of my life,” she said.
“There’s specifically one week that I will cherish forever — it will be my favorite week of my life out of those six months. We’re actually a family of five. I’m in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby.”
Johnny was “beaming and so excited” after learning of the “total surprise” pregnancy.
“His reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me,” Meredith said.
“Noa, our oldest, hasn’t even turned two yet. 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?
“Our last one being a blessing and so special despite these difficult circumstances.”
In addition to Noa, the couple welcomed Johnny Jr in February this year.
Johnny played for the Columbus Blue Jackets after snubbing lucrative free-agent offers from other teams in 2022 to be closer to his family.
“He wanted his parents and his siblings to be able to see more games, and spend more time with us and our baby on the way,” Meredith said.
Madeline is expecting her first child with Matthew, a boy set to be named Tripp and due in December.
“I’m so thankful God gave us a child, a little Matty to run around for life, to carry on his legacy,” she said in her eulogy.
“Tripp will know how much his father loved him, and I promise to do all the things with him we talked about.”
Madeline urged people to “never drink and drive” and “not put another family through this torture” of losing loved ones.
“It brings tears to my eyes to see how much everyone loved and cherished my husband and brother in-law as much as their families do,” Madeline said.
“This last week has felt like I’m trapped in a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I feel numb, angry, sad, blessed all at once.
“Some days the thought of this new reality is debilitating, but mostly I just miss Matt.”
Katie’s wedding was postponed after the family learned Johnny and Matthew had died.
“Right in the middle of getting ready for the best day of my life the unthinkable happens that will change my life forever,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I remember a week ago being in the hotel sitting with family and texting Devin about how we forgot to practise our dip.
“To think that was our biggest worry at this moment when in just a split second and a phone call later our lives would forever change.
“Remember to tell your people you love them. I would do anything to tell my big brothers I love them one more time.”
Katie mourned her brothers as “the absolute best a little girl could have asked for”.
“This will never be a goodbye post because I will never stop saying your names and honoring you both,” she wrote.
“I’ll take the best care of mum, dad, Kristen, Mer, Madeline, and your babies.”