Oberst, Norma Margarita Villamizar born on September 30, 1939 and died on July 16, 2017.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Luis Carlos and Rosemary Payne Villamizar. Norma is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Charles R. Oberst, who she married on September 16, 1961. She is also survived by her children, Michele Oberst, Charlie Oberst Jr., Alicia Oberst Walters (Dan), Paul Oberst (Jenny) and Amy Oberst Darnieder (Casey); grandchildren Daniel and Alex Walters, Cole Oberst, Paul Jr., William and Tucker Oberst, James and Gretchen Darnieder and other family member Andre Cantareira.
Norma graduated at the age of 19 from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She was a supporter of the Louisville Orchestra, a Broadway Series Member, and a Music Theatre Louisville Board Member. She belonged to the Crescent Hill Women’s Club, was a Board Member for Sacred Heart Schools, President of the Fillies Inc., and Ball Chairman, Executive Board Member, Secretary and Director of the Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc., and chairing the Pegasus Parade, Spelling Bee, Mini Marathon, Balloon Glow, and Balloon Race, KY Derby Princess, Pegasus Pin and Chow Wagon. Norma was a Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby host program member, where she and her husband hosted two KY Derby Winners. She was a Board Member of Stage One The Louisville Children’s Theatre, Fund for the Arts, Louisville Ballet Supporter, Jefferson County Medical Society Auxiliary, and President of the Louisville Women’s Club where she directed the annual musical program and dedicated the last song to her husband, “Love Changes Everything.” She was President of The Junior Circle and Queens Daughters where she modeled in their style show. She served on the Bellarmine University Women’s Council and the Bellarmine College Board of Overseers. She was past Chair of Bellarmine University Show House. She was the recipient of the Heart Award from Sacred Heart Academy and she was an honorary alumna of Sacred Heart Academy. She was a nursing instructor for St Anthony’s School of Nursing where her students passed their boards on their first test and Office Manager for Louisville OB-GYN Associates.
Norma was a graduate of Leadership Louisville and the Bingham Fellows. She was a member of the Holy Spirit Church choir and Delta Zeta Sorority, as well as an active member of three investment clubs.
In 1982, she became the co-owner of a KFC Franchise and with stores in three states. Norma was a board member of White Hall Home & Gardens and the home room mother for all five children at Sacred Heart Model School. She was the Girl Scout Troop Leader and a carpool “Mother of the Year”. She enjoyed horseback riding on her family farm in Louisiana and followed her mother’s footsteps as a superb bridge player and avid tennis player. She directed and performed two musicals and was herself a superb piano player playing Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 at her high school graduation. Norma was an accomplished chef having learned from Camille Glen and studied under the Chinese Nuns while in Japan the art of Japanese and Chinese cooking. While in Japan, she graduated from the House of Ikenobo in Kyoto, Japan in the advance class of Art and Flower Arrangement. She loved to travel and visited over thirty countries. She was an avid University of Louisville sports fan and a member of the Louisville Boat Club. Importantly, she was a surrogate Mom to many.
Her funeral mass will be at 10am on Tuesday, July 25th, at Holy Spirit, 3345 Lexington Road with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 1pm to 3p and 5pm to 8pm Monday, July 24th at the Highland Funeral Home 3331 Taylorsville Road. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sacred Heart Schools’ Endowment in the name of Norma V. Oberst or St. Xavier Endowment in the name of Norma V. Oberst.

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