Gaudreau family prepares to lay brothers Johnny and Matthew to rest as uncle delivers message of hope
TRENTON, NEW JERSEY: The deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew have shaken their family to the core. But as they prepare to lay the siblings to rest, the family’s message is one of hope and gratitude.
Tragedy befell last Thursday in Oldmans Township, New Jersey when Johnny and Matthew were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bikes. The timing couldn't have been worse as it took place just one day before their sister Katie’s wedding.
A message of hope
The brothers' uncle Jim Gaudreau described how the deaths of Johnny and Matthew have knocked the family off their feet.
“We have been brought to our knees, but in that process, we have witnessed and are reminded that we have been blessed with everything everyone has done for us through the lives John and Matty lived,” he shared in an emotional Facebook post. “We are gaining strength and WE WILL stand up once again. We are Gaudreau Strong!”
Jim said the family has been "greatly comforted" by the many acts of kindness they have witnessed.
“As we embark on the journey of laying John and Matty to rest, we are greatly comforted by all those who have visited these growing memorials and who have left messages of love, prayers, thoughts of kindness as well as jerseys, skates, sticks, pucks, flowers, candles and so many other tokens of remembrance,” he said.
“We are consoled by the memorials on each of your doorsteps, in your yards, and on your cars. We have heard and seen the countless moments of silence and heartfelt messages by so many professional athletes, organizations, and other athletic leagues, by every single person in private, along with the extremely heartfelt messages from broadcasts, media, and each and every single one of you along with the random acts of kindness and compassion by complete strangers," Jim continued.
“The endless stream of food, flowers, friends, and family on our doorstep. And, by all the acts of kindness and compassion that we aren’t even aware of.”
Family mourns after sudden tragedy
The man accused of causing the brothers' deaths is Sean Higgins, a 43-year-old US Army major from Woodstown who worked at an addiction treatment center in Pennsylvania. According to police, Higgins was attempting to pass two vehicles on the inside of County Route 551 when he struck the brothers from behind.
The brothers were enjoying a bike ride on the eve of their sister's wedding when the tragic accident occurred. Higgins failed a field sobriety test at the scene and later admitted to having consumed "five to six" beers before the crash. Higgins has been arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto.
The wedding of Johnny and Matthew's sister Katie to hockey player Devin Joyce was understandably canceled. The couple had planned to tie the knot in Gloucester City, New Jersey, but this unimaginable loss forced them to put their plans on hold, the New York Post reported.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, leaves behind his wife Meredith and their two young children, Noa, 1, and Johnny Jr, who is just six months old. Matthew, 29, leaves behind his wife Madeline who is pregnant with their first child. The couple's unborn son named "Baby Tripp" is due in December. A GoFundMe page for Madeline and her unborn child has raised over $555,000.
Gratitude for overwhelming support
The Gaudreau family has found solace in the support of those around them despite the overwhelming grief. Jim Gaudreau thanked everyone who has reached out to them.
"We hear you, we see you, we thank you, we are ever so grateful and we are humbled by all of it," he wrote. "We are blessed by each and every one of you and your acts of caring, kindness, and compassion. You are our family!"
As the family prepares to say their final goodbyes to Johnny and Matthew, they hold onto the love and strength that has been shown to them. "John and Matty... Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hands," Jim concluded.
