The wife of Matthew Gaudreau has paid a moving tribute to her late husband after he was tragically killed while biking on Thursday, Aug. 29 alongside his brother Johnny.
On Saturday, Aug. 31, Madeline Gaudreau, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, shared a post on Instagram saying she will “keep going” for him and their unborn baby boy following his death.
Alongside a photo of the pair wrapping their arms around one another, Madeline wrote, “I have no words. I just miss you. I don’t know my life without you. 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. I know you are watching down in just as much pain as I am looking up. I will keep going for you and our son.”
“I love you so much Matthew,” Madeline concluded the post.
A second post of the couple holding hands shared on Sunday, Sept. 1, read, “Best 14 years of my life 🤍 I will cherish those years and you for the rest of my life.”
A baby registry in Madeline and Matthew's names lists her due date as Dec. 31, 2024, while Madeline also shared their baby news in an Instagram post back in June.
“Baby Gaudreau Arriving in December 🤍🌈,” Madeline captioned a black-and-white photo of the duo holding hands as a series of ultrasound images of their unborn baby hung out of the back pocket of Madeline’s jeans.
On Friday, Aug. 30, a verified GoFundMe page was set up to support Madeline and the baby, whose name will be Tripp.
"We are heartbroken to share the devastating news that the Gaudreau family has experienced a tragic and unfathomable loss. On August 29, 2024, a car accident took the lives of Matthew and his brother John," the GoFundMe page reads.
"In this unimaginably difficult time, we are coming together to support Matthew's wife, Madeline and their growing baby Tripp, and help alleviate some of the financial burdens they now face. Your support will allow them the time to take off work to grieve and heal as a family."
“All donations raised will be transferred directly to Madeline to help -
pay for funeral expenses and baby Tripp,” the page’s description added.
At the time of publication, the page had raised over $495,000.
Matthew and NHL star Johnny, who played professional hockey for the Columbus Blue Jackets, were killed around 8 p.m. on Thursday when a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol fatally hit both brothers, New Jersey State Police told PEOPLE.
Sean M. Higgins was identified as the driver by the authorities. He was arrested and charged with two counts of death by auto, according to the police.
Johnny is survived by his wife, Meredith, and their two children — daughter Noa, who turns 2 in October, and son Johnny, 7 months.
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The brothers were in New Jersey ahead of their sister Katie’s wedding, which was scheduled for Aug. 30, according to the wedding website. The brothers were listed as groomsmen for the wedding ceremony.
In a second Instagram post shared on Sept. 1, Madeline praised the sibling’s special bond.
“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. They were each other's biggest cheerleaders. Matt looked up to John in so many ways but the most important was the father he was to Noa & Johnny,” Madeline wrote in part.
Then addressing Johnny’s wife, Madeline added, “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. They blessed us with children.. through them we will always have a part of them earth side with us forever. I love you my handsome husband, I love you John, I love you meredith , I love you noa, I love you johnny and I love you baby tripp.”
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