Watch funeral service for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau
MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) — Family, close friends and the hockey community came together today at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Delaware County, for the funeral of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.
The two beloved South Jersey hockey players were killed by a suspected drunk driver on Aug. 29.
During an emotional, tear-filled eulogy of her husband, Johnny Gaudreau, Meredith Gaudreau announced she was pregnant with their third child. In February, the Gaudreaus welcomed their second child, Johnny Edward Gaudreau. Their first child, Noa Harper Gaudreau, was born in September 2022.
"John and I had the best six months as a family of four," Meredith Gaudreau said. "These will forever be the best six months of my life. There's specifically one week that I'll 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. A total surprise, but again, John was beaming and sox excited. I was so nervous because this was again a total surprise. But his reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me, even though I was driving the car.
"After the initial excitement sank in, every time he looked at me, he'd say, 'You're nuts, you know that?" Three kids, Noa, our oldest, hasn't even turned two yet. In less than three years of marriage, we 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. To my babies, Daddy loves you all so much, and you have the best daddy in the world."
Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield was one of many in the NHL community in town to show support for the Gaudreau family.
"It's the only thing we can do," Caufield said. "It's obviously a really tough time. It doesn't feel real yet. Everywhere he went, he was loved and respected."
Caufield announced last week that he would change his jersey number from No. 22 to No. 13 to honor his "hero."
Caufield and Gaudreau were teammates for Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Prague.
The funeral follows a week of memorials for the brothers, who were struck while riding their bikes in Salem County, New Jersey, on the night before their sister's wedding.
Hundreds of mourners poured into D'Anjolell Memorial Homes Sunday for a public visitation. Community members also gathered Friday at Gloucester Catholic High School, which both men attended and where Matthew Gaudreau later coached, for a private remembrance ceremony.
Pearl Jam honored the brothers during a concert in Philadelphia Saturday and sports teams from across the country paid tribute to the brothers in the wake of their deaths.
