NHL Star Johnny Gaudreau’s Tragic Death at 31: His Widow’s Shocking Announcement at the Memorial Service

A surprising announcement made by Johnny Gaudreau’s widow at his memorial service has shocked many people online.

Johnny Gaudreau, a 31-year-old ice hockey player for the Columbus Blue Jackets, passed away recently. His memorial service was held on Monday, September 9, where his widow, Meredith Gaudreau, gave a touching eulogy.

In her speech, Meredith revealed that she is pregnant. This news has added a new layer of emotion to the already heart-wrenching event.

During her eulogy, Meredith Gaudreau talked about how much she treasures the six months she had with her late husband, Johnny Gaudreau, and their time together as a family. She highlighted one special week that stood out, saying, “There’s specifically one week that I will cherish forever — it will be my favorite week of my life out of those six months.”

Meredith then shared some surprising news: “We’re actually a family of five. I’m in my ninth week of pregnancy with our third baby.” She explained that the pregnancy was a “total surprise” and added, “John was beaming and so excited. His reaction was just immediately kissing me and hugging me.”

Meredith and Johnny Gaudreau also have a daughter, Noa Harper Gaudreau, born on September 30, 2022, and a son, Johnny Edward Gaudreau, who was born on February 22, 2024.

Meredith said, “It doesn’t even sound possible, but I see it as the ultimate blessing. How lucky am I to be the mother of John’s three babies? Our last one is such a special blessing, even in these difficult times.” She also told her kids how loved they were and continue to be by their late dad.

Upon hearing about Meredith’s pregnancy, people online expressed their sadness and offered condolences. One Facebook user commented, “This is heartbreaking ,” while another added, “So very sad. Condolences to all concerned.”

A netizen added, “So so tragic.” Another person wrote, “What a complete tragedy . All because one guy couldn’t wait to get home to get drunk. Hope he never drives again,” referring to the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Johnny and Matthew’s deaths.

The tragic accident occurred on August 29, the night before Katie Gaudreau’s wedding. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were riding their bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, when they were hit from behind by a suspected drunk driver. The driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, struck the brothers at 8 p.m., and both Johnny, who had played 10 seasons in the NHL, and Matthew were pronounced dead at the scene.

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Sean M. Higgins faces serious charges following the tragic accident. He is charged with two counts of death by auto and reckless driving. He also faces additional charges for consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle and possessing an open container. Although his blood-alcohol level hasn’t been released yet, the criminal complaint notes that Sean failed a field sobriety test. He is currently being held in a Salem County jail.

When news of Johnny and Matthew’s passing became public, Johnny’s hockey team released a heartfelt statement on social media. They expressed their deep sadness over the tragedy and highlighted how much Johnny was loved and admired. The team praised Johnny’s talent and his impact on the team, reflecting on the profound loss felt by everyone who knew him.

The Columbus Blue Jackets shared a tribute to Johnny, saying, “Johnny played the game with great joy and a genuine love for hockey. From Boston College to the Calgary Flames, Team USA, and the Blue Jackets, he brought excitement to every team he played for. He thrilled fans in a way only Johnny Hockey could.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets also sent their heartfelt condolences to Johnny’s wife, parents, children, friends, and all his loved ones. They emphasized that even though Johnny’s life was tragically cut short, the remarkable impact he made on his community and his career would be remembered and cherished forever.

Amid the outpouring of support from coaches and sports stars like NBA superstar LeBron James, who sent prayers to Gaudreau’s family, Meredith also shared a touching wedding anniversary post on Instagram on September 4.

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As the Gaudreau family navigates through their immense grief, we extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers to them. Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau may no longer be with us, but their memory will forever remain in our hearts. Rest in peace.

My Cousin Intentionally Sewed My Wedding Dress 2 Sizes Smaller – She Was Shocked When She Saw What I Did with It

When Jess and Michael get engaged, her cousin Sarah decided to sew her wedding dress for her as a gift. But during the final fitting, Jess discovers that the wedding dress is two sizes too small. Will Sarah fix her error, or will Jess have to take things into her own hands?

My cousin Sarah and I have always had a complicated relationship. She’s loud and bubbly, but also the type of person who craves the spotlight. And because of that, our entire family gave her the attention she wanted. It made more sense to shine the spotlight on Sarah, rather than ourselves.

When Michael and I got engaged after being together for four years, my whole family seemed genuinely excited for me.

A couple standing together | Source: Midjourney

A couple standing together | Source: Midjourney

Sarah even got all of our girl cousins together, along with my best friends, for a night out. Ending in an Airbnb where we continued the party, because I was the first of us to get engaged.

During that night out, Sarah came up to me, a glass of champagne in her hand.

“Jess! I have a great idea!” she said.

A smiling woman holding a glass of champagne | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman holding a glass of champagne | Source: Midjourney

“What?” I asked. “What do you want to do?”

“I want to make your wedding dress for you!” she exclaimed, swaying to the music as she spoke.

Now, Sarah is a brilliant seamstress, and she’s made some incredible outfits in her young career so far. Despite our complicated relationship, the thought of Sarah making a dress for me was actually a lovely idea.

A woman working as a seamstress | Source: Midjourney

A woman working as a seamstress | Source: Midjourney

“Really? You’d do that for me?” I asked, touched by the gesture.

“Of course, Jess! It’ll be perfect!” she replied with a smile that seemed nothing but sincere at the time.

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. I was surrounded by the people who loved me, and even more, my cousin wanted to do something so intimate by making me a wedding dress.

Smiling women at a party | Source: Midjourney

Smiling women at a party | Source: Midjourney

Everything felt right.

We spent weeks choosing the design and fabrics. We pored over the magazines and websites, and finally, I had an idea in mind.

One day, I met Sarah at her office, ready to take my final measurements so that she could start with my dress.

“You’re going to look amazing,” she said, taking my measurements precisely, jotting down everything carefully on her writing pad.

The office of a seamstress | Source: Midjourney

The office of a seamstress | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, I hope so,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee as Sarah put her measuring tape away. “I’ve been on a strict diet, and I’m finally happy with my weight. So, it’s just about maintaining my figure now.”

“You look good, Jess,” she said. “But if anything changes and you find yourself losing or gaining weight, just let me know, and you can come in for another fitting.”

I nodded and left, eager to see how my dress was going to turn out.

But when I went for the final fitting, things took a turn.

A garment bag on a hanger | Source: Midjourney

A garment bag on a hanger | Source: Midjourney

I slipped into the dress, but something was wrong—it was way too small. I couldn’t even zip it up, no matter how hard I sucked in my breath.

“Jess! Are you crazy to gain weight before the wedding?” Sarah asked, her tone dripping with mock concern.

My heart sank. We were two weeks away from the wedding, and judging from this fitting, I didn’t have a dress.

A shocked young woman | Source: Midjourney

A shocked young woman | Source: Midjourney

“I haven’t gained any weight, Sarah,” I replied. “I’ve been too stressed to eat. If anything, I should have lost weight because of that!”

Sarah shrugged, barely concealing a smirk that was plastered onto her face.

“Well, I’ll try to fix it, but with the wedding so close, I can’t make any promises. I have other clients waiting for their orders, too, Jess.”

A nonchalant woman | Source: Midjourney

A nonchalant woman | Source: Midjourney

Her words rang loud and clear in my head as I drove away from her office.

And then it hit me — this wasn’t an accident. I recalled the way she spoke to me, and the tone in her voice. There was no remorse in her mistake. There was no mix-up in measurements. There was no weight gain with me.

This was deliberate, and Sarah had made the dress too small on purpose.

“I don’t know what to do,” I told Michael when he got home that evening.

A couple talking in their kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A couple talking in their kitchen | Source: Midjourney

“Show me the dress?” he asked, pouring himself a glass of water.

“What! No!” I exclaimed. “The dress may be a mess, but it’s bad luck for you to see!”

“Look, why don’t you take the dress to Mrs. Lawson? She’s my mom’s friend, and she does all her alterations. She’s making Mom’s dress for the wedding, too.”

An older seamstress | Source: Midjourney

An older seamstress | Source: Midjourney

So, I gathered the awful dress and went to Mrs. Lawson, who was a retired seamstress with a reputation for miracles.

“Oh, honey,” she said when I walked in. “Michael phoned me and told me all about the mess. But I’ve seen the worst and made it a hundred times better.”

“This might be tricky, though,” I said, showing her the dress.

A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney

A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney

“Honey, I’ve seen it all, trust me. Let’s make this work,” she chuckled.

Together, we transformed the original design into something completely new. A chic, short, cocktail-style dress that was bold, unconventional, and a bit edgy for a wedding.

But it was absolutely stunning. It was everything Sarah’s dress wasn’t: fun, flirty, and perfectly me.

A wedding dress on a hanger | Source: Midjourney

A wedding dress on a hanger | Source: Midjourney

When it was time to walk down the aisle, my heart raced. I stood in the bridal suite of the wedding venue and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked beautiful. I felt beautiful.

As my dad walked into the room to get me, his jaw dropped.

“My darling,” he said. “You look incredible! Wow!”

A close up of a bride | Source: Midjourney

A close up of a bride | Source: Midjourney

“Thanks, Dad,” I said. “I know it’s not what we all envisioned me wearing for my wedding, but it’s been the best surprise. I feel like a bride.”

“That’s the only thing that matters, darling,” he said.

Soon, my entrance music began, and goosebumps appeared all over my body as a classical version of a Lana Del Rey song took over the room.

Heads turned.

A smiling father-of-the-bride | Source: Midjourney

A smiling father-of-the-bride | Source: Midjourney

And I felt the buzz of admiration follow me as people watched me walk in. I knew that my dress was a hit.

When I got closer to Michael, his eyes widened, and his smile took over his face. I knew then that the man I was about to marry fell in love with me all over again.

But before I took my place next to Michael, I turned to Sarah, wanting to see her expression first.

A groom standing at the altar | Source: Midjourney

A groom standing at the altar | Source: Midjourney

Her face was priceless: she was pale and shocked. I knew she had expected to see me in tears, humiliated by her sabotage and wearing that horrible dress she had designed.

Instead, I was glowing, smiling from ear to ear.

The ceremony went off without a hitch, Michael’s vows leaving me in tears and my heart full of love for the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

A bride with tears in her eyes | Source: Midjourney

A bride with tears in her eyes | Source: Midjourney

But then came the reception.

Michael and I were mingling with our guests when Sarah cornered me.

“Jess, what happened to the dress? Where’s my original design? Why did you change it?” she asked, trying to hide her confusion.

I grinned.

A close up of an annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney

A close up of an annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, I thought I’d take your design and make it better! Remember, you weren’t even sure that you could do anything about it. And I was bursting out of it because it was at least two sizes too small.”

“So, that’s it? You just threw away my hard work?” she gasped. “That’s low!”

“No, Sarah, your work is the foundation of this dress. It’s just a hundred times better because the woman who fixed it wanted me to look and feel beautiful on my wedding day.”

A close up of an annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney

A close up of an annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Around us, guests kept complimenting my dress, calling it unique and stunning.

Sarah had no choice but to stand there and listen.

“Come on, love,” Michael called to me. “Let’s do our first dance so that I can really get into the buffet after! The roast beef is to die for!”

“I’m coming,” I smiled, finally happy.

A couple standing at a wedding buffet | Source: Midjourney

A couple standing at a wedding buffet | Source: Midjourney

What would you have done?

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