NHL

Johnny Gaudreau funeral: Wife Meredith announces pregnancy in heartbreaking eulogy for Blue Jackets star

Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau, delivered more emotional news on Monday at his funeral. 

The NHL star was killed on Aug. 30 after he was struck by a drunk driver riding bicycles with his brother, Matthew, who also died in the accident. His family and friends held a funeral on Monday in Media, Pa. 

As if the story could not get any more tragic, Meredith revealed during her eulogy that she is pregnant with a third child, joining their daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny in the family. 

A number of NHL players were in attendance to pay their respects to the Gaudreau family, including Sean Monahan, Kevin Hayes, Andrew Mangiapane, Patrik Laine, Cole Caufield, Seth Jones, Mike Matheson, and Connor Murphy. 

MORE: Everything to know about Johnny Gaudreau’s death

Here’s more to know about the funeral and eulogy. 

Johnny Gaudreau funeral

During a tear-filled eulogy at his funeral, Gaudreau’s wife Meredith announced that she is nine weeks pregnant with the couple’s third child. 

“John and I had the best six months as a family of four,” Meredith said. “These will forever be the best six months of my life. 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.

“A total surprise, but, again, Johnny’s beaming and so excited. I was so nervous because, again, this was 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 would look at me he would just say, ‘You’re nuts, you know that?’ Noa, our oldest, is not even 2 [years old] yet. In less than three years of marriage, we have 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.”

You can watch Meredith’s entire eulogy below:

 

 

The tributes continued with a moment to honor the memory of the Gaudreau brothers at WWE Raw in Calgary on Monday.

What happened to Johnny Gaudreau?

Gaudreau, along with his brother Matthew, 29, were killed after they two were struck by a vehicle while biking around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30 in Oldsmans Township, N.J.

The two brothers were riding their bikes north on County Route 551 when Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, N.J., was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee north on the same road, according to investigators. Higgins attempted to pass two vehicles in front of him and entered the southbound lance. 

An SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the road in order to safely pass the Gaudreau brothers, who were riding their bikes on the right side of the road, according to investigators. Higgins then attempted to pass the SUV and struck the two Gaudreau brothers, police said.

Both brothers died from their injuries.

Investigators said Higgins was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. As a result, he was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto. 

Gaudreau and his brother were in town to attend their sister’s wedding the next day in Philadelphia, according to their wedding website. 

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