In a truly gut-wrenching yet heartwarming twist, Meredith Gaudreau, the widow of beloved late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, took center stage at her husband’s memorial service to reveal a poignant and unexpected surprise—she is carrying their third child. This didn’t come as a complete shock, both because the Gaudreau’s are such a close-knit family and because a baby, after all, is what any good husband bequeaths his widow when he dies unexpectedly. But as this emerged, along with a host of tender memories of Johnny Gaudreau shared by family and friends, it left the nation both tearful and inspired. Sorrow shadowed the day, yet hope lifted it somehow beyond the tragic events that gave rise to the memorial.

As those gathered paid respects to the Gaudreau brothers, Meredith spoke bravely in tribute to Johnny, keeping the essence of his character alive in the memories she shared. Of course, she knew Johnny only during a short span of his life, but what she expressed made it clear that the time she spent truly knowing him was filled with unforgettable moments that any family member would hold dear. … Meredith was with Johnny for those six “precious and fragile” months, and she will now carry him along as she journeys into the next life chapter of being a mother to three. … She kind of shined a light on that brief little conversation amid the darkness of everything that was said in tribute, as she simply revealed all the happiness that could be enveloped in such a short time.

Initially, it came as a complete surprise, but Meredith now says the pregnancy has solidified John’s joy in the simplest things and brought him blissfully into a life of fatherhood. Meredith explained, “He was, of course, over the moon. He immediately started planning for the future.” His plans for this future included Meredith being able to stay home after the baby was born for an entire “year” (his word) to be able to bond together as a family. Meredith commented, “Just like with Johnny, his first plan was, ‘You’re staying home for a year. You’re not going into work. You need to stay home. You need to be with the baby. I’ll be the working dad.'” Although Meredith amplified John’s excitement, his cheers for the addition to their household and his will to protect and provide for them all the same, these reactions and promises were John’s nature.

Meredith conveyed her life with John in a way that reminded us of our own loves. From their first meeting, John was her person, and Meredith was his. They were souls intertwined. They were what the world might call a power couple. Meredith’s love was cast in instant and ever-growing glowing admiration. For all of this, and so much more, Meredith is an outstanding and brilliant beauty. She is the perfect woman for John, despite the fact that practically every woman on this planet is also the perfect woman for John. I guess they’re just lucky… and he’s just lucky.

When Meredith bared her soul to the audience, there could be no doubt about how monumental Johnny’s legacy was, or how his life and love would continue to guide the family he loved so much. Her homage was not only to John but also to the vow she made to him: that she would remain strong for their children, would uphold the Gaudreau legacy, and would bring them up with the kind of love and assurance that seemed to come so effortlessly to Johnny. Though Meredith has suffered a tragic loss, she now approaches life with a new resolve—she will be a loving mother to her children and will rise to the occasion.

As the memorial service came to an end, Meredith spoke words of sober hope that touched everyone’s heart. “John, my husband, my best friend, my soulmate. You made me the happiest girl in the world. Thank you for the gift of family and love. … I miss you so much and I love you. You are my forever.” In this tribute, Meredith Gaudreau expressed the untitled love of an unsensational marriage in a society that idolizes sensationalism. She and John were married for 10 years; both were slightly over 40 at the time of his death. … Meredith is not a person one thinks of as a sole survivor, at least not in the way one thinks of a sole survivor in a John Grisham novel.