Rebecca Muncy

WARSAW — Rebecca Muncy was born in Montana, grew up as a child in South America and her extended family lives in New York. She travels back to New York with her family each summer to work on updating the rustic summer home her great-grandfather built in the Catskill Mountains.

Muncy’s passion for nursing was inspired by her great-great grandmother, who helped open a hospital for women in New York City. Her mother was a nurse and suggested she get a nursing degree before she considered any other career so she would always have a way to support herself. Nursing wasn’t her first choice since she dreamed of being an archeologist when she was younger.

Muncy took her mother’s advice and decided to first complete an LPN certification, but finishing her nursing education took longer than she had planned. She was involved in a serious car accident and her injuries required a long recovery period.

Muncy shared, “All the women in my family are matriarchs and caregivers. I really like people and caregiving is a part of who I am.”

After completing her LPN requirements, she worked in New York four years. With a move to New Mexico to take care of her dad, who became ill, a job opportunity opened up at a local university  hospital caring for premature babies.

Muncy applied and got the position. Babies from all over New Mexico were transported by small plane to this specialty hospital. As part of the job requirements, Muncy had to learn to fly and land the plane in an emergency because there was only one pilot on board.

Other moves by her family took her to Michigan and Ohio, where she gained more nursing experience and was able to complete her RN education.

It took a move to Indiana to find her favorite job as a hospice nurse at Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice.

“Being a hospice nurse allows me to have more quality time with my patients and their families. I can support and educate my patients and their families about comfort care and quality of life” said Muncy.

It is her memories of helping to bring comfort and peace to hospice patients and their families that give her the motivation and energy to continue this ministry of nursing.