The tragic hockey player's brothers, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, were buried next to each other on Monday, just as they had been in life.
A crowd of mourners, including NHL players who had rink-side-balled with Jonny, gathered at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania, to remember the siblings, whose caskets were placed side-by-side in front of the altar during the tearful funeral.
The size of the crowd that gathered was proof that “the lives of John and Matthew mattered,” said the chief priest who celebrated the mass.
“They were noticed on this planet. They were loved on this planet. They were valued on this planet.”
“We all just have visas on this earth,” he said, “no passports. We're only here for a short time – sometimes too short a time. We were taken away from here today, and that's two really incredible young people who still had a future to live for, who still had goals and accomplishments to achieve.”
The funeral was held privately on Sunday.
John, 31, an all-star player for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets who went by the nickname “Johnny Hockey,” and Matthew, 29, who played college hockey with his brother at Boston University, were killed on Aug. 29 when they were hit by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bicycles on the eve of their sister's wedding.
The brothers' deaths were mourned across the sports world, including in Columbus, Ohio, where Gaudreau signed a free-agent contract with the small-market Blue Jackets in 2022, spurning more lucrative free-agent offers from other teams, including New Jersey.
According to New Jersey State Police, the Gaudreau brothers were riding their bicycles on a road in Oldmans Township around 8 p.m. when they were struck by an SUV.
They were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver, Shawn M. Higgins, 43, was charged with DUI, reckless driving and two counts of causing death by motor vehicle. He is scheduled to appear for a hearing on Sept. 13.
The brothers have been celebrated across various social media platforms since their passing.
His sister, Katie Gaudreau, who was scheduled to be married the day after his brother was killed, posted photos on social media of the family in happier times.
