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Family and NHL fans gathered to remember Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau at their funeral Monday afternoon after the brothers were tragically killed in a bike accident in New Jersey.
Dozens of mourners packed into St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania for the service. A private viewing was held on Sunday for the brothers.
The brothers' widows grave heartbreaking tributes to their husbands at the funeral, recalling the close bond they shared as brothers and their dedication to family.
'I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be his wife,' Johnny's wife, Meredith Gaudreau, said during her tearful speech. 'He was and still is my soulmate.'
Matthew's wife, Madeline Gaudreau, who is pregnant with their child, recalled how the brothers 'were attached at the hip' and would sleep in the same bed.
'John would take care of Matty, and Matty would take care of John... You did not hear one name without the other.'
Family and NHL fans gathered at a funeral Monday afternoon for Johnny and Matthrew Gaudreau after they were tragically killed in a bike collision on Thursday, August 29
'I still feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be his wife,' Johnny's wife, Meredith Gaudreau, said during her tearful speech. 'He was and still is my soulmate'
Dozens our mourners packed into St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania for the service on Monday
Loved ones and dedicated fans started gathering at the church more than two hours before the service began.
Members of the Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, former Boston College coach Jerry York, and countless members of the hockey community were among those in attendance.
Matthew and Johnny lost their lives in a bike collision on August 29, the night before their sister Katie was supposed to get married.
Sean Higgins, 43, an alleged drunk driver accused of killing the siblings, was charged with two counts of death by auto after careening into them as they cycled along a highway in Salem County, New Jersey.
Matthew's wife, Madeline Gaudreau, who is pregnant with their child, recalled how the brothers 'were attached at the hip' and would sleep in the same bed
Johnathan and Matthew's mother, father and two sister's entering the service
The fatal crash happened less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, the night before Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were to serve as groomsmen in their sister Katie's wedding, which has since been postponed, DailyMail.com has learned.
Higgins appeared virtually at his first pretrial hearing on Thursday. The judge in this case postponed the hearing to September 13 to allow attorneys more time to prepare themselves.
The 43-year-old is being held in a jail in Salem County, New Jersey and has been charged with two counts of death by auto as well as reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Attorneys Matthew Portella and Richard Klineburger III, who Higgins had hired, said in a statement, 'This is a tragedy involving a great deal of emotion and impacting many individuals. It is too early in the stages of the legal process to make any out of court statements.'
A group of loved ones carry John's casket into the church Monday
A group of family members and friends carry in Matthew's casket to the funeral service
Matthew's wife Madeline who is expected to give birth to their son Tripp in December enters the church
Fans as well as current and former players paid tribute to the brothers in candlelight vigils held in both Columbus, Ohio and Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Wednesday night.
Sean Higgins, 43, an alleged drunk driver accused of killing the siblings, was charged with two counts of death by auto after careening into them as they cycled along a highway in Salem County
Outside Nationwide Arena in Columbus, there was a 13-minute, 21 second silent remembrance of the two brothers - with 13 and 21 being Johnny and Matthew's playing numbers respectively.
A slideshow played photos of the siblings throughout childhood, their teenage years and into college hockey, the pros, marriages, baptisms, and much more throughout their lives.
Outside the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, bagpipes played as thousands turned out to commemorate Johnny, whom the Flames selected 104th overall in the 2011 NHL draft.
Johnny leaves behind his wife Meredith, whom he married in September 2021, and two young children; one-year-old daughter Noa and baby boy Johnny - born just six months ago.
The fatal crash happened less than three miles from the Gaudreau family home, the night before Johnny, 31, and Matthew, 29, were to serve as groomsmen in their sister Katie's wedding, which has since been postponed. (pictured: Johnny, Katie and Matthew)
Matthew, meanwhile, leaves behind his wife, Madeline, just over three years after their wedding in New Jersey. Madeline is expected to give birth to their son, Tripp, in late December.
A GoFundMe page was created to help support the widow and her future son. As of Monday afternoon, more than $647,000 was raised.
Lewis Gross, the agent of the two brothers, said on Thursday that it had taken him some time to write about what it meant to him to represent the brothers for the past 15 years.
'The hockey might be over, but my commitment to John and Matt will last throughout my life,' Gross wrote on social media. 'These boys taught me so much. They taught me what family really means.'
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