Hockey world turns out in droves to say goodbye to Gaudreau brothers in Delco

UPPER PROVIDENCE — The hockey world descended on Delaware County on Monday to mourn the passing of the Gaudreau brothers.

John Gaudreau, 31, known in the NHL as “Johnny Hockey” and a seven-time National Hockey League All-Star during tenures with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, and his brother Matthew, 29, who was a prospect in the Islanders system and played with Johnny at Boston College, died on the evening of Aug. 29 after being hit from behind by a suspected drunken driver on a road near the home they grew up in Oldmans Township, N.J. It happened on the eve of their sister’s wedding.

Services for the two were held in Delaware County after relatives stepped up to assist the devastated Gaudreau family, who went from the joy of a wedding to burying two sons. On Sunday a viewing for the brothers was held at D’Anjolell Memorial Home in Marple Township, with the service Monday at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Upper Providence.

Family, friends and John’s Flames and Blue Jackets teammates were on hand Monday, as were NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Boston Bruins legend Phil Esposito.

Former Flyer and current Pittsburgh Penguin Kevin Hayes, a longtime friend of the Gaudreau family and teammate with Johnny at BC; Calgary’s Andrew Mangiapane and Carolina Hurricane Eric Robinson served as pallbearers.

Four tour buses brought players from the Calgary and Columbus teams to the church. Other players arrived on their own. Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens was among those paying his respects. He said he was just trying to help the family through a tough time.

“Just being here supporting the family is the only thing we can do; it’s a really tough time. It’s really sad,” Caufield said.

Caulfield added that Johnny Gaudreau represented everything you look for in a teammate and a family guy. He said everywhere Gaudreau went he was loved in both the U.S. and Canada. During the service, his wife, Meredith, announced she was pregnant with the couple’s third child.

“It’s really tough,” Caufield said.

Identical hearses, led by a Delaware County police motorcycle procession, brought the brothers to the church just before the noon funeral. As the family entered, bells tolled.

The service was led by the Rev. Anthony Penna with the Rev. Eric Banecker and the Rev. Allain Caparas assisting.

Additional pallbearers included Sean Monahan, Eddie Morris III, Matthew Morris, Billy Bonner, AJ Venello, Charlie Vasaturo, Hunter Bridy, Devin Joyce, Parker Korbitz, Garrett Korbitz, Chris Calnan and Chris Gentile.

For local police the funeral was a major challenge that was successfully organized in just days.

Officials across the county stepped up to make the event run smoothly. They had only a few days to organize and implement the large-scale event that brought the attention of the nation to the area.

Marple Twp. Police Chief Brandon Graeff said the viewing at D’Anjolell Funeral Home ran smoothly on Sunday. But Monday’s memorial service was on a much larger scale, with many dignitaries in attendance.

“Pulling off something of this magnitude in 72 hours takes an incredible amount of thought, cooperation and logistical acumen,” Graeff said. “Fortunately, we had all of that and it all came together: The National Hockey League, the staff at D’Anjolell’s and nearly a dozen emergency service agencies all banded together to provide the Gaudreau family as much peace and dignity as possible.”

Upper Providence Police Chief David Montella agreed. He credited NHL security for its help and said the event ran smoothly.

Among other departments assisting were Marple Township Public Works, Haverford Township Police, Upper Providence Police, Delaware County 911 Center, Marple Township Ambulance Corps, Springfield Township Police, Radnor Township Police, Broomall Fire Company, Newtown Township Police, Nether Providence Police, Media Police and Upper Darby Police, Graeff said.

Following the service Ed Morris, John Gaudreau’s father-in-law, spoke to the press. Morris, who lives in Delaware County, helped find a facility that would accommodate the needs of a double funeral that would be attended by thousands.

“My family … had one job to do, the Gaudreaus were so hurting,” he said. “We, my six children and my lovely wife Cheryl knew what we had to do. Send him (John) up the way he wanted to be sent up, and Matthew, two great kids. John’s so happy right now because he went up the exact way he wanted to go up. With our Lord, the Lord’s way, in a beautiful church, thousands of people. In a sacrament that was his. As his father-in-law, I knew I had to do that for him.”

Morris said the world got to see what great family men the Gaudreau brothers were.

“The only goal we have at this point is for everyone in the world to duplicate what those two fine men did,” Morris said. He added the Gaudreau family is in deep pain and that people could help relieve their pain by becoming better people.

“”That would make John and Matthew so happy,” Morris said.

Originally Published: September 9, 2024 at 5:15 p.m.