A Call to Care

Susannah Trunick is more than a familiar face in the Mueller neighborhood. She’s a connector, a caretaker, and a quiet force for good. On her block, neighbors gather regularly for shared coffee, homemade baked goods, and Sunday suppers. Beyond Mueller, Trunick extends that same spirit of care into her professional life as a compassionate admissions nurse with Hospice Austin, the city’s only nonprofit hospice.

Trunick and her husband, Josh, who proposed to her right here in Mueller, chose the neighborhood intentionally. After spending a month in Amsterdam, the couple returned to Austin searching for a place that felt walkable, bikeable, and deeply connected. Mueller checked every box. True to form, Trunick biked to meet me for our interview at Figure 8 Coffee Roasters on Airport Boulevard.

A native Austinite, Trunick grew up in North Austin and graduated from the University of Texas School of Nursing in May 2020. She began her career at Seton Main on the Intermediate Care (IMC) floor, entering the profession during one of the most difficult moments in modern healthcare history: the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year and a half in the hospital, she transitioned to Inhabit as a Nurse Case Manager, gaining experience across a wide range of care settings. Still, something was missing. That search ultimately led her to Hospice Austin, where she has now worked for three years.

A Helping Hand 

As an admissions nurse, Trunick spends her days meeting patients and families where they are, often literally. Hospice Austin provides care wherever a person calls home, whether that’s a private residence, assisted living facility, or, when symptoms are too severe, Christopher House, Hospice Austin’s inpatient facility with 14 beds dedicated to comfort care. Trunick splits her time between admissions and the occasional shift at Christopher House, biking there when she can and driving across Austin when patients are farther afield.

“Hospice Austin provides care focused on comfort,” Trunick explains. “That’s very different from hospital care, where the goal is often to cure.”

The work is deeply meaningful and deeply challenging. “You’re going into people’s homes, so it’s incredibly intimate,” she says. “I work with patients with dementia, cancer, and other serious illnesses. I have to clearly explain what hospice can offer, whether that’s nursing care, social work support, or spiritual services. Even though these conversations are hard, I know I’m helping families who are struggling.”

One of the most moving aspects of Trunick’s work is advocating for those who might otherwise be overlooked. At Hospice Austin, patients without family or stable housing receive care they may not have access to elsewhere, such as chaplains, musicians, volunteers, and, most importantly, dignity, and love. “Some people don’t have advocates,” Trunick says. “Here, they’re not alone.”

Hospice Austin relies heavily on volunteers and welcomes community members interested in helping. Opportunities range from reading to patients and running errands to playing cards, assisting with office work, or offering specialized skills such as sound therapy or bilingual support. Those interested can learn more at hospiceaustin.org/get-involved/volunteer.

Every Hospice Austin patient is supported by a dedicated care team, and the organization also offers the most extensive bereavement program in Central Texas. As Austin’s only nonprofit hospice, Hospice Austin serves anyone in need, regardless of age, diagnosis, or ability to pay, directing all resources back into patient and family care rather than shareholders or investors.

Having recently lost my own mother-in-law, I was especially moved to learn that Hospice Austin’s grief counseling services are open to the entire community. They offer virtual and in-person support groups, sliding-scale counseling, and Camp Braveheart, a free bereavement summer camp for third-through tenth graders held in Wimberley, Texas. Applications open each March.

Susannah Trunick embodies the true meaning of “help your neighbor.” With her steady compassion and generous heart, she is an invaluable presence in Mueller and beyond. We are lucky to live alongside people like her: People who show up, care deeply, and quietly make our city a kinder place.

Carmen Gray has lived in Austin since 1992. She is a retired teacher, published author, and freelance writer.