Meredith Gaudreau Commemorates Late Husband on Her Daughter’s Birthday
Meredith Gaudreau lovingly shared nostalgic throwback pictures of her late husband, Johnny Gaudreau, on their daughter Noa’s 3rd birthday.
“Our girl is 3! Happy birthday Noa! I am so proud of you 💓😘,” Meredith posted via Instagram on Friday, October 3, alongside images of Johnny with Noa and some recent moments from the celebration.
One photo featured Meredith with her three children — Noa, Johnny Jr., born in 2024, and Carter, who arrived in April. Another captured Noa blowing out the candle on her pink and white cake, adorned with rainbow sprinkles and shaped like the number “3.”
Among the throwback images, one depicted Johnny holding Noa, while another showed him gazing at her as a newborn in the hospital.
“Sending so much love to our little Princess Gaudreau from Mom-Mom & Pop-Pop! I can’t believe you’re already 3! Happy Birthday Noa! ❤️🥳🎈🤗,” commented Johnny’s mother, Jane Gaudreau, on the post.
Johnny, a star player for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, along with his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, tragically lost their lives after being hit by an alleged drunk driver while cycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, on August 29, 2024 — just before their younger sister, Katie Gaudreau, was set to marry. Johnny was 31 and Matthew was 29.
In August, Jane shared a heartfelt tribute to her son on what would have been his 32nd birthday.
“Happy Birthday my sweet John. I miss you every single day,” she wrote via Instagram on August 13. “You were an amazing son, brother, husband, dad, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, and far more than words can express. I see so much of you in Noa and Johnny, and I know Carter will inherit many of your wonderful qualities. I promise to love them with all my heart, just like I love you, and to share all your childhood stories so they’ll always remember the incredible person you were. I know Matty found a way to honor you today.”
She ended with, “I cherished being your mom, and I will always love you and Matty forever.”
Johnny Gaudreau and daughter Noa. Courtesy of Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram
During an interview with Good Morning America that same month, Meredith reflected on her final words to Johnny in private after her eulogy at his memorial.
“I told John that I would take care of our kids,” Meredith recounted, wiping away tears. “I thanked him for the wonderful life we had.”
Meredith was accompanied by Matthew’s widow, Madeline Gaudreau, for the interview. Madeline welcomed their first child, son Tripp, in December 2024.
“There’s no healing when you didn’t get to say goodbye,” Madeline shared.
In a heartfelt letter to Johnny published in the Players’ Tribune in June, Meredith expressed the deep sorrow she felt upon hearing about the deaths of her husband and brother-in-law.
“I was in shock. I was bent over sick for days,” she wrote. “It’s beyond description. The only one who can understand this pain is my sister-in-law. Seeing her breaks my heart. I ache for her.”
She continued, “It’s the worst thing I could have ever imagined. In an instant, I realized how much I missed you, more than I ever thought was possible. And I haven’t stopped missing you since. That feeling never fades. I’m so sorry. I love you deeply. I miss you every second of every day. My love for you grows stronger each day.”
