Meredith Gaudreau shared touching throwback photos 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 shared via Instagram on Friday, October 3, alongside photos of Johnny with Noa, as well as some recent snaps from the celebration.
In one picture, Meredith posed with her three children — Noa, Johnny Jr., born in 2024, and Carter, born in April. In another, Noa blew out her number “3” candle on her pink and white cake, which was decorated with rainbow sprinkles.
As for the throwback photos, one showed Johnny holding Noa, while another pictured him looking down at her when she was a newborn in the hospital.
“So much love to our little Princess Gaudreau from Mom-Mom & Pop-Pop! I just can’t believe you are 3 already! Happy Birthday Noa! ❤️🥳🎈🤗,” Johnny’s mom, Jane Gaudreau, commented on the post.
Johnny, a star for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver while they were riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, on August 29, 2024 — the night before their younger sister, Katie Gaudreau, was scheduled to get married. Johnny was 31 years old. Matthew was 29.
In August, Jane shared a touching tribute to her son on what would’ve been his 32nd birthday.
“Happy Birthday my sweet John. I miss you every single day,” she wrote via Instagram on August 13. “You were a wonderful son, brother, husband, dad, brother-in-law, uncle, friend and so much more than words could ever say. I see so much of you in Noa and Johnny, and I know Carter will share many of the same beautiful qualities you have. I promise to love them with all my heart, just as I love you, and to tell them all your childhood stories so they’ll always know the amazing person you are. I know Matty found a way to do something special for you today.”
She concluded, “I loved being your mom, and I will always love you and Matty forever.”
During an interview with Good Morning America that same month, Meredith reflected on the final words she said to Johnny in private following her eulogy at his memorial.
“I just said to John that I would take care of our kids,” Meredith said, while wiping away tears. “I thanked him for such a great life.”
Meredith was joined by Matthew’s widow, Madeline Gaudreau, for the interview. Madeline gave birth to the couple’s first baby, son Tripp, in December 2024.
“There’s no healing when you didn’t get a goodbye,” Madeline said.
In a personal letter to Johnny published in the Players’ Tribune in June, Meredith reflected on the pain she felt when she learned her husband and brother-in-law had died.
“I was in shock. I was keeled over for days sick to my stomach,” she wrote. “It’s completely indescribable. The only person who can relate to me is my own sister-in-law. I see her and my heart breaks for her. I’m sick for her.”
She continued, “It’s just the worst thing I could have ever imagined. And in an instant, I missed you more than I knew was possible. And I haven’t stopped missing you since. That feeling never goes away. I’m so sorry. I love you so much. I miss you every second of every day. I miss you more and more every day as well. My love grows deeper for you each day too.”
