Meredith Gaudreau maintained a post-Christmas tradition during the first holiday season since the death of her husband, Johnny Gaudreau.
One day after Christmas, Meredith reposted a picture from a night out with Drey Severson, wife of Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson. “Dec 26 tradition 🫶🏼❤️,” Meredith captioned the picture, which showed a fancy dinner table and a bottle of wine.
Drey — who married Damon in 2022 — posted the original photo from their evening on the town, writing, “Favorite Columbus Tradition that won’t be broken 🤍.”
Damon, 30, and Johnny were teammates during the 2023-2024 season after Damon was traded to the Blue Jackets in June 2023 after spending the first nine seasons of his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils.
Johnny was killed on August 30 after he and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau, were struck and killed by a drunk driver while riding bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey. Johnny was 31 years old, Matthew was 29.
Meredith’s post-Christmas celebrations also included some quality time with her sister, Lily, who posted a video of Meredith and Johnny’s 2-year-old daughter, Noa, chowing down on a huge sandwich.
“Our cheesesteak girlie,” Lily captioned the video via her Instagram Story on Thursday.
Meredith and Johnny also shared a son, Johnny, now 10 months. At the memorial service for Johnny and Matthew in September, Meredith revealed she was 9 months pregnant with the couple’s third baby.
On Christmas Day, Meredith and the kids received a visit from Johnny and Matthew’s parents, Guy and Jane.
“John is happy mom and dad stopped to give the babies and Mer some lovin,” Johnny’s youngest sister, Katie, posted via Instagram Story on Wednesday, December 25. “The best mom-mom and pop-pop.”
Katie shared a photo of Jane holding Noa and Guy holding baby Johnny, both kids asleep, while the couple smiled for the camera.
Johnny and Matthew were both scheduled to be groomsmen in Katie’s wedding the day after they were killed. Katie has since rescheduled her wedding for July 11, 2025.
Jane posted her own somber Christmas message via Instagram on the first holiday since the death of her sons.
“Our 2024 Christmas family photo in front of the Christmas tree will be this beautiful Christmas ornament we received,” Jane wrote, sharing a photo of an ornament featuring a picture of the family from Johnny and Meredith’s wedding in September 2021. “Remembering all the wonderful Christmas Eves our family has spent together ❤️🌲.”
