Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith celebrates daughter’s 2nd birthday one month after his tragic death

SALEM, NEW JERSEY: It was a bittersweet time for Meredith Gaudreau as she celebrated her daughter Noa’s second birthday on Monday, September 30. It was a joyous occasion but it came just one month after the tragic loss of her husband — NHL star Johnny Gaudreau — who died in a heartbreaking accident.

Now a widow, Meredith took to social media to share beautiful photos from Noa’s birthday celebration. Her two-year-old daughter seemed to be having a great time as she was surrounded by family and friends. Even Johnny’s former teammates and their families joined in to celebrate Noa’s special day.

The party was farm-themed, complete with animal decorations and printed-out photos of Noa with her late father. Johnny — an 11-year NHL veteran who played for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets — had always been close to his family.

Johnny Gaudreau's memories live on

Meredith Gaudreau wasn’t just sharing party pics—she also posted some incredibly touching videos capturing moments from the past year.

One clip showed Meredith and Noa cozied up on the couch, watching Johnny play on TV during an away game.

“Daddy’s biggest fan,” Meredith captioned the sweet moment.

Meredith and Johnny’s love story lives on through their children. Along with Noa, Meredith also has an 8-month-old son named after his father, Johnny. And though the family is still reeling under the loss, Meredith made a heartwarming announcement at Johnny’s funeral that they are expecting their third child in the coming months.

The Gaudreau family’s world was turned upside down last month when Johnny and his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau tragically lost their lives. The brothers — known for their love of hockey — were riding their bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, when they were struck by a car driven by an alleged drunk driver.

The timing was particularly cruel—the brothers were supposed to be groomsmen at their sister’s wedding the following day. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29. The driver was identified as Sean Higgins and has since been charged with two counts of death by auto and remains in custody.

Meredith shared a heart-wrenching eulogy at Johnny Gaudreau’s funeral, remembering the happiest moments she shared with her husband and their family.

"John and I had the best six months as a family of four. These will forever be the best six months of my life," Meredith said through tears last month.

"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," she revealed.

Meredith Gaudreau calls Johnny 'the perfect husband'

Meredith Gaudreau spoke fondly of Johnny Gaudreau's reaction to her third pregnancy news.

“He was beaming and so excited,” she said, adding, "His reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me." The pregnancy had been a total surprise, especially after welcoming baby Johnny just earlier this year in February.

“In less than three years of marriage, we’ve created a family of five,” she continued. “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.”

In the weeks following Johnny’s death, Meredith has shared several heartfelt tributes to her husband on social media. Many of these posts have included family photos and videos of Johnny on the ice, showcasing his stellar career and interviews where he spoke candidly about the importance of family.

One touching post that stood out included a clip of Johnny explaining why he chose to join the Columbus Blue Jackets. Despite other offers that reportedly included more money, Johnny made his decision based on what mattered most to him: being closer to family.

“The most important thing” in his life was spending time with his loved ones, and no offer could change that.

“My perfect husband,” Meredith captioned the clip, People reported.