Matthew Gaudreau’s Widow Madeline Posts Touching Photo of Late Husband, Brother-in-Law on Thanksgiving After Tragic Deaths
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau were fatally struck by a driver suspected of being under the influence on Aug. 29 in New Jersey
Matthew Gaudreau's widow Madeline paid tribute to her late husband and brother-in-law on the first Thanksgiving since their tragic deaths.
Madeline posted a touching photo of Matthew and his brother Johnny — who both died in a bike crash in August on the night before their sister's wedding — in a post on Instagram Stories on Thursday, Nov. 28.
"Happy Thanksgiving you two," Madeline — who is currently pregnant with her and Matthew's first child Tripp — wrote over a photo of Johnny and Matthew.
The photo of the brothers shows just the back of their heads as they enjoyed Bud Lights with their arms around one another on a couch.
The brothers were laid to rest at a joint funeral on Sept. 9, where both of their widows gave emotional speeches honoring their late husbands. Both Johnny’s wife Meredith and Matthew’s wife Madeline are pregnant, they confirmed at the funeral.
The sentimental Thanksgiving post from Madeline reflects the close relationship between the two brothers that family and friends have greatly highlighted since their passing.
In a tribute post by Johnny's widow, Meredith, the mother-of-two — who is expecting her third child with her late husband next year — wrote, “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," Meredith continued, adding that Johnny “looked up to” his younger brother Matthew and “relied on him for everything,” describing the pair as “best friends.”
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“And Matty was always there. Absolute best friends and biggest fans of each other despite polar opposite personalities,” she continued. “Everyone wanted to be around them, including me. I would sit back and watch John genuinely love his time with his brother.”
Matthew, 29, and Johhny, 31, were tragically killed when a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol struck and killed them near Country Route 551 North just after 8 p.m on Aug. 29.
New Jersey State Police said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time that the driver, identified as Sean M. Higgins, was attempting to pass another car when he fatally struck the brothers.
Johnny and Matthew were in Oldmans Township, New Jersey for their sister Katie Gaudreau's wedding — which was rescheduled from its Aug. 30 date after the sudden death of the bride's brothers — where they were set to serve as groomsmen.