Johnny Gaudreau's widow Meredith gets cremation tattoos in sweet tribute to late NHL star

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Meredith Gaudreau has found a deeply personal way to honor the memory of her late husband, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, by getting three meaningful tattoos as a tribute to him. The tattoos serve as a permanent reminder of their love and his legacy. 

Tragically, Johnny, a seven-time NHL All-Star, was killed in August 2024 by an alleged drunk driver. In the same devastating accident, his 29-year-old brother, Matthew, also lost his life - just one day before their sister’s wedding in New Jersey.

Meredith Gaudreau inks cremation tattoo in tribute to late husband Johnny Gaudreau

In an Instagram post by tattoo artist Tay Nicole Clinch, it was revealed that Meredith Gaudreau chose to honor her late husband, NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, with a cremation tattoo, where ink is mixed with a loved one's ashes. 

The post showcased Meredith’s tattoo featuring the word "forever" in script on the side of her left ring finger, as well as the names of their two children — Noa Harper, 2, and Johnny Edward, 11 months — on the inside of her forearm.

The caption shared by Clinch expressed the emotional journey behind the tattoo. 

"A month ago, a client reached out to me for a cremation tattoo. I’d never done one and was transparent about that but she chose to stick with me anyway. Shortly after, she let me in on her story and It’s safe to say I got pretty emotional when I’d come to realize this was a story I had already knew of and was brought to tears over in the past," Clinch wrote.

She went on to explain the precautions taken in the process, stating, "With some factors involved, this isn’t something I’d do but given the circumstances, I made an exception. Safety was prioritized. A medical professional was consulted and gave clearance, ensuring this decision was made with care and informed guidance."

Clinch emphasized the significance of the tattoo, saying, "So, with his ashes in the ink, this tattoo became an additional way to carry his presence with her alongside their babies— thank you for trusting me with something so special and letting me play a small role in your healing journey. 🤍"

She added a personal note to Meredith: "I wanted Meredith to have some private time with these while they healed and they’ve healed well without any unusual side effects.💙"

In response, Meredith expressed her gratitude in the comment section, saying, "Obsessed with them. Perfectly done by the best and coolest girl."

Internet hails Meredith Gaudreau over strong tribute to her late husband

Within two days of Tay Nicole Clinch's Instagram post, it received over 2,000 likes and countless comments praising Meredith.

One user noted, "An incredible way to honor somebody."

An instagram user remarked, "Such a beautiful tribute i love this." One person on Instagram wrote, "Such a beautiful tribute."

Someone else said, "Beautiful work, didn’t know you could even do this with ashes!! Looks amazing!! ❤️1️⃣3️⃣"

One person penned, "Absolutely beautiful and tragic. How truly special!"

"Beautiful! She will have Johnny with her always❤💔," a commenter claimed.

The final user stated, "Never heard of cremation tattooing. What a beautiful way to honour a loved one."

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