Family, friends and teammates gathered Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pa., for the funeral of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, brothers who were killed Aug. 29 by a suspected drunk driver as they rode bicycles in their home state of New Jersey.
“You were my forever, and I cannot wait until we’re all together again,” she said. “Me and the kids love you and we’re proud to be able to say you are ours forever.”
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and longtime executive Brian Burke joined Gaudreau’s Blue Jackets teammates at the service.
“It just shows the true honor and respect that everybody gave them. Just can’t imagine what they’re going through,” Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield told the Associated Press. “Just the amount of people that are here today and yesterday, just anything we can do to help.”
Caufield had announced that he will change his uniform number from 24 to 13, the number worn by Gaudreau during his NHL stops with the Blue Jackets and the Calgary Flames.
Matthew Gaudreau played alongside his brother at Boston College for one year before playing five seasons of minor league hockey. He recently became coach at his alma mater, Gloucester Catholic. An online charity drive set up to support his wife, Madeline, and their yet-to-be-born son has raised more than $650,000.
“By the overwhelming presence and overwhelming number of people here today, they’re sending a message to you loud and clear that John and Matthew’s lives mattered, that they were noticed on this earth, they were loved on this earth and they were valued on this earth,” the Rev. Tony Penna, the director of campus ministry at Boston College, told the mourners. “This robust crowd wants you to know that they’re here to tell you, all of you, that they love you, too, and they have your back and they’re here to support you in our loss.”
