The widows of hockey participant brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau opened up about their grief in an emotional interview almost one 12 months after their husbands have been killed by an alleged drunk driver in New Jersey.
In an interview with ABC News, Madeline Gaudreau, the widow of Matthew, and Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of ex-NHLer Johnny recalled their remaining messages to the brothers at their funeral, which came about final September in Media, Pa.
“Our youngsters didn't deserve this,” Meredith said by tears. “John and Matty didn't even deserve that, particularly the way in which it occurred. There isn't a therapeutic whenever you didn't get a goodbye. It retains me up at night time.”
Meredith mentioned she promised to handle their children — daughter Noa, 2, and sons, Johnny, 1, and Carter, born in April 2025 — when she mentioned her remaining goodbye to Johnny at his funeral.
“I thanked him for such an incredible life,” she recalled.
Meredith introduced final September she was anticipating her third little one throughout a eulogy on the brothers' funeral.
She welcomed Carter on April 1, seven months after the tragic loss of life of the previous Blue Jackets ahead.
“There isn't a therapeutic whenever you didn't get a goodbye,” mentioned Madeline, who wiped away her tears.
Madeline was pregnant together with her and Matthew's first little one, Tripp Matthew, when he died. She welcomed their son final December.
“I can't even keep in mind, possibly I used to be 4 months pregnant that the time,” Madeline recalled. “Tripp was kicking rather a lot, so I simply held Matt's hand on my stomach for Tripp. I didn't need to say goodbye to both of them as a result of I do know I'll see them once more in the future.”
Madeline and Meredith's full interview with ABC Information will air throughout “Good Morning America” on Wednesday, which might have been Johnny's thirty second birthday.
“He kissed all of us goodbye — simply within the driveway at his mother and father' home, and that was the final time I noticed him,” Meredith mentioned of that final time she noticed Johnny earlier than his loss of life.
Johnny and Matthew have been killed when they have been struck by a suspected drunk driver whereas biking on a rural highway in Salem County, N.J., on the eve of their sister Katie's marriage ceremony on Aug. 29, 2024.
Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 28.
The motive force, Sean Higgins, was arrested and has pleaded not responsible to expenses of aggravated manslaughter, vehicular murder, proof tampering and leaving the scene of an accident.
Katie canceled her authentic marriage ceremony following the tragedy, and married her highschool sweetheart, Devin Joyce, at The Bellevue Resort in Philadelphia final month.
Meredith and Madeline launched the John and Matthew Gaudreau Basis in March to advertise and develop youth ice hockey alternatives, assist hockey households dealing with tragedies in addition to assist households which might be additionally affected by drunk driving.
The pair mentioned they dreamed of the thought whereas they have been nonetheless within the funeral house.
