MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) — Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were remembered during an emotional funeral Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Delaware County, where hundreds of people came to say their final goodbyes to the brothers.
The two beloved South Jersey hockey players were killed by a suspected drunk driver on Aug. 29.
"All John ever wanted was Matty, but I don't know how to say it, but the fact that you are both together now in heaven gives me a little bit of comfort knowing you are, of course, together," Meredith Gaudreau, Johnny's wife, said during a tear-filled eulogy. "I know John would not be able to live a day without his brother."
During her eulogy, 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 so 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 2 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."
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Services ended before 3 p.m. A small makeshift memorial grew outside the church with hockey sticks, jerseys and flowers. Inside the church, every pew was taken.
Meredith Gaudreau and Madeline Gaudreau, Matthew's wife, both gave eulogies, at times through tears. They shared stories of the brothers who they described as inseparable, each other's biggest cheerleaders.
"Everything was always John and Matty," Meredith Gaudreau said. "I know John would not be able to live a day without his brother. He loved him so much."
"John took care of Matty, and Matty would take care of John," Madeline Gaudreau said. "Meredith said it best: You do not hear one name without the other. They were so extremely proud of each other."
After the services, Ed Morris, Johnny's father-in-law, said, "[we] wanted to send him up the way he wanted to be sent up. And Matthew. Two great kids. John's so happy right now because he went up the exact way he wanted to go up, with our Lord, the Lord's way, in a beautiful church with thousands of people. In a sacrament that was his."
Members of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and longtime NHL executive Brian Burke were among those in attendance, alongside family and friends.
"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.
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Meredith Gaudreau singled out two of John's closest friends, Sean Monahan and Kevin Hayes, a former Flyer, in a eulogy that lasted more than 30 minutes.
"You've both known John longer than I have, which means you helped shape him into the man I fell in love with," she said. "He looked up to you both on and off the ice. You are his brothers, which means you're my brothers, too. Thank you for being there with me when you're experiencing such a great loss, as well."
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.
"I urge everyone to never drink and drive," Madeline Gaudreau said. "Call a ride. Please do not put another family through this torture. The loss of Matty and John will leave a hole in the family, with his close friends, the community for eternity."
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.
Nikki DeMentri is a general assignment reporter with CBS Philadelphia. The Central New Jersey native is thrilled she is sharing the stories of where she grew up.
