Before & After 9/11: A Life Lived Inside a Moment the World Remembers with Trish Straine
By Susan Hunt
February 2, 2026
What does it mean to rebuild a life after profound loss?
Rebuilding after loss doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means learning how to live fully while carrying grief with you.
In this episode of Stare Down the Bull, host Susan Hunt speaks with Trish Straine, whose life changed forever on September 11, 2001, when her husband Jimmy was killed in the World Trade Center attacks. Trish was 32 years old, living in a new home, and had given birth to her second son just six days earlier.
What followed was not only personal devastation, but the challenge of raising children, navigating grief, and redefining identity in the aftermath of national tragedy.
How did Trish Straine survive the early days after 9/11?
Trish credits three things with helping her survive the early aftermath: community, faith, and determination.
Her neighborhood, family, and friends surrounded her immediately, offering practical help and emotional support. At the same time, Trish made a clear internal decision: her children had already lost their father, and she was determined they would not lose their mother emotionally as well.
Prayer, daily movement, and leaning on others became essential coping tools rather than optional supports.
How does grief change a person over time?
Before 9/11, Trish describes herself as having lived a “charmed life.” Loss shattered that innocence but replaced it with something else: self-trust.
Through grief, she learned:
- She can problem-solve under pressure
- She can ask for help without shame
- Faith can deepen through suffering
- Perspective changes what feels urgent or important
Rather than hardening her, grief refined her priorities and strengthened her sense of purpose.
What is Stephy’s Place and why does it matter?
Stephy’s Place is a free grief support center co-founded by Trish and other 9/11 widows. It offers peer-based support groups for people grieving the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or loved one, including loss due to suicide or addiction.
The mission is simple but powerful: remove the stigma from grief and allow people to heal in community.
Today, Stephy’s Place hosts dozens of weekly support groups and continues to grow, proving how widespread and underserved grief support truly is.
What lessons does Trish hope others take from her journey?
Trish’s advice is grounded and practical:
- Trust your gut
- You can count on yourself
- It’s okay to ask for help
- Healing happens faster in community
- You will pay support forward someday
Her story is not about triumph over tragedy, but about choosing to live fully alongside it.
Why this conversation matters now
As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, Trish’s story reminds us that history doesn’t end when headlines fade. Loss continues quietly in homes, families, and hearts, and healing is a lifelong process.
This episode of Stare Down the Bull is an invitation to slow down, listen deeply, and recognize the extraordinary strength found in ordinary perseverance.
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