Annie Oberstar

In the early morning hours of Thanksgiving, Anne-Thérèse “Annie” Oberstar Prager of Chapel Hill, NC - cherished mother, devoted wife, loving sister, aunt, and dear friend - passed away in the tranquil confines of her home, surrounded by loved ones. After an exhausting ten year journey with breast cancer, she can finally be at peace.

Annie was born on May 30, 1973, so eager to arrive that she was born in the backseat of a station wagon on the Capital Beltway en route to Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD. She grew up in Bethesda, MD the third of four children in a lively, creative family.

Annie attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, where she majored in Justice and Peace Studies. Her passion for social justice shaped her entire life. Fluent in Spanish, she immersed herself in cultures and communities throughout Central and South America and built relationships with people from every walk of life.

After college, Annie returned to Washington, D.C., where she began her career in social work at Jubilee Jobs, helping recovering addicts and ex-offenders find stable employment and subsequently changed many lives for the better. She later earned her massage therapy certification from the Baltimore School of Massage, and after moving to San Francisco with her husband Darren, completed a master’s degree in Somatic Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Annie met Darren through mutual friends on St. Patrick’s Day 2000, struck up a conversation about music, and proceeded to start a friendship that quickly deepened over the course of the next two years. After getting engaged on the edge of the Sahara Desert in Morocco, they married in 2003 in Arlington, VA, surrounded by family and friends, and built a loving life together in Washington, DC, San Francisco, and eventually Chapel Hill. Their children, Jonas (19) and Louna (4), were the joys of Annie’s life - her adored son and “miracle fairy baby.” She poured her creativity, warmth, and fierce devotion into their upbringing: planning lavish birthday parties, cheering at sports events and performances, playing games before bed, and celebrating both triumphs and setbacks equally with love.

During her childhood, Annie was the family’s “unofficial veterinarian” often bringing home stray animals and as a teenager was a loving daughter who helped care for her mother during her own breast cancer diagnosis. She carried this caretaking spirit throughout her life and applied it to friends and family alike. Annie embodied kindness, compassion, and an earthy, grounded spirituality that made others feel seen and at ease. An avid cook, and talented baker, she loved nothing more than sharing good times with others through her culinary delights. She had a gift for forming community everywhere she lived, whether at a local coffee shop or in circles of friends and colleagues.

Her activism was a lifelong passion. Annie understood her own privilege and used it with humility, teaching her children to be active, civic-minded participants in the world. She met people with acceptance and deep empathy, greeting neighbors, baristas, nurses, receptionists and strangers alike by name.

Throughout her grueling fight with breast cancer Annie never lost her spark. She navigated through her cancer journey with grace and elegance, and was often selfless in nature while facing her own mortality. Her light never dimmed; everyone who met her felt that radiance and no one burned brighter. Even in the darkest times during her health struggles, she was an extraordinary listener, a trusted confidante, and a source of strength for many who credit her with helping them through difficult chapters of their lives. Annie resonated with a deep, profound love that instantly made you a better person. She will be missed beyond measure.

Preceding her in death were her beloved mother, Jo (Garlick) Oberstar (1991) and her father, James Oberstar (2014).

She is survived by her loving husband Darren; her adored children Jonas and Louna; her siblings Ted Link-Oberstar (Juliane), Elle Tower (Todd), and Monica Oberstar; step-siblings Charlie Kurth (Pippin) and Lindy Kurth; her cherished nieces and nephews: Emma, Lily, and Sloane Tower; Kathryn and Clare Link-Oberstar; Cali and James Weber; and many beloved in-laws.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in Annie’s honor. Both Annie and her mother lost their lives to breast cancer, and BCRF directs at least 90% of donations to research in the hope of ending this devastating disease. Our entire family is incredibly grateful to the many gifted healthcare practitioners who worked so hard to give Annie more time.