"We are members of a club no one wants to be in": Johnny Gaudreau and Jimmy Hayes' widows Meredith and Kristen mourn losses of their husbands

By Abhishek Dilta

Modified Sep 10, 2024 07:47 GMT

Johnny Gaudreau and Jimmy Hayes' widows, Meredith and Kristen, mourned the heartbreaking loss of their husbands and recently shared their emotional experiences.

On Monday, family and friends gathered to honor the late Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau during a memorial service. The hockey community came together in solidarity. Meredith took a moment during her eulogy to thank Columbus Blue Jackets center Sean Monahan and Pittsburgh Penguins center Kevin Hayes for their presence.

This acknowledgment was particularly significant as Kevin Hayes lost his brother Jimmy due to a drug overdose three years ago. Jimmy's widow, Kristen, expressed her gratitude to Meredith in a touching Instagram story.

In a supportive gesture, Johnny Gaudreau's wife echoed this sentiment, sending love to Kristen:

"We are members of a club no one wants to be in. Love you, Kristen."

(Image Source: Meredith Gaudreau/Instagram)

Last month, a vehicle driven by a drunk driver tragically struck Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau while they were riding their bikes near their parents' home, leading to their deaths. The incident occurred just a day before they were set to celebrate their sister's wedding.

The loss of the two brothers has sent shockwaves through the hockey community and beyond, as family, friends and fans mourn the untimely passing of two beloved figures.

Johnny Gaudreau's widow Meredith announces pregnancy of third child

During her heartfelt eulogy, Meredith Gaudreau shared touching memories of her time with her husband, Johnny Gaudreau, and their family. She reflected on the joy they experienced together as a family of four over the past six months, describing it as the most cherishable time of her life.

Meredith also revealed that she's currently nine weeks pregnant with their third child, saying:

"John and I had the best six months as a family of four. These will forever be the best six months of my life. 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."