Meredith Gaudreau paid homage to her brother-in-law, Matthew Gaudreau, after he and her husband, Johnny Gaudreau, were killed in a bike accident on Aug. 29.
She shared the emotional post on Instagram Aug. 31, posting a series of photos that showed the tight-knit relationship between the brothers and captured some milestone moments in their lives, including weddings, christenings, and more.
In the caption, Meredith Gaudreau penned a heartbreaking message about the brothers’ relationship, writing in part, “John and Matty. U don’t hear one name without the other. Always side by side.”
“Even in large group settings, u can find them hip to hip,” she continued. “John’s younger brother- but he looked up to Matty and relied on him for everythinggg. And Matty was always there. Absolute best friends and biggest fans of each other despite polar opposite personalities.”
Meredith Gaudreau said that “everyone wanted to be around” the brothers, including herself, and she would often watch her late husband “genuinely love his time with his brother.”
“Matty, thank you for loving our babies like your own and for being such an amazing uncle and godfather,” she added. “I can’t wait to return the honor when I become Tripp’s aunt. I don’t think John could live a day without you so I’m comforted knowing you are of course together in heaven.”
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were killed on Aug. 29 after they were hit by an alleged drunk driver while riding bikes in their hometown in New Jersey, police said.
The brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
On Aug. 31, Meredith Gaudreau mourned the loss of her husband on social media, thanking him in one Instagram post for “the best years” of her life.
“Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours,” she wrote. “I love you so so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can’t wait to be with you again.”
In a second Instagram post, Meredith Gaudreau called her husband Johnny “the absolute best dad in the world” and “the best partner to go through parenthood with.”
They were parents to a one-year-old daughter, Noa, and a 5-month-old son, Johnny.
“John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa’s eye,” Meredith Gaudreau added. “I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud.”
Matthew Gaudreau’s wife Madeline, who he married in July 2021, wrote in a tribute on Instagram that her time with her husband was the “best 14 years” of her life and that she would “cherish those years” for the rest of her life.
Matthew and Madeline Gaudreau were also expecting a child due in December 2024.
“I have no words. I just miss you. I don’t know my life without you,” she wrote in another post. “I have never experienced a pain like this. I am so blessed you choose me to be your wife.. to love me. you are the best thing about me.”
Like her sister-in-law, Madeline Gaudreau posted a tribute on Sept. 1 that highlighted the brother’s close bond, writing in part, “It was always Matty & John.”
“I can’t even put into words the bond these two had and right now I don’t have the strength,” she wrote. “They were each others biggest cheerleaders. Matt looked up to john in so many ways but the most important was the father he was to Noa & Johnny. I find extreme comfort knowing they are together , as they always were.”
Madeline Gaudreau also shared a note to Meredith Gaudreau, writing, “To Meredith- we will forever share this extreme heartbreak and terrible bond.. however , the boys couldn’t have picked stronger woman as their wives and mothers of their children.”
“We will carry each other through every season .. as the boys would do for each other,” she added. “They blessed us with children.. through them we will always have a part of them earth side with us forever.”
Francesca Gariano
Francesca Gariano is a New York City-based freelance journalist reporting on culture, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle and wellness. She is a freelance contributor to TODAY.com,where she covers pop culture and breaking news.
