Margarita Noriega

Margarita Noriega, age 96, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 6, 2026 at Homestead of Overland Park Memory Care, Overland Park, Kansas. She was born Paula Margarita Guzman on August 15, 1930 in Barrio Arenas, Utuado, Puerto Rico. Daughter of Francisco Guzman and Maria Concepcion Mendez. She was the youngest of 17 children. She married Manuel Rivera de Noriega on May 25, 1946 and they were married for 67 years and were blessed with three children.

Margarita lived in Ashtabula, Ohio for 25 years before moving to Dothan, Alabama in 1977 where she and her husband lived for 29 yrs. She has lived in Olathe & Overland Park, Kansas for the past 20 years.

A talented seamstress, she learned sewing and cooking at age 10. Sewing truly was one of her greatest joys in life, both for pleasure and frugality. She also enjoyed sewing beautiful doll dresses for the forty dolls she collected. In 1958, she worked for Ora’s Dress Shop on Main St. and later as the seamstress for Ashtabula General Hospital in Ashtabula, Ohio. A woman of many talents, beyond sewing, she enjoyed embroidery, crewel, cooking and playing her harmonica. She was kind and generous, sharing of her humble means with those less fortunate than her. She was truly blessed of God.

Margarita’s life was also a testament to her faith in a living God and her Savior Jesus Christ. For many years she attended the Assembly of God Church, Ashtabula, Ohio, the Assembly of God Church in Dothan, Alabama, and College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas. She loved people, but she especially loved her family and all her many cousins. Her other love language was cooking meals which she shared with friends. Her favorite Bible verse was Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” She will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband Manuel Rivera Noriega, her daughter Brunilda, her parents, her 16 siblings and countless cousins, nieces and nephews. She is survived by her children Alba English (Loy) and Manuel A Noriega, both of Overland Park, Kansas. Her three granddaughters include: Amy King (Frank), Lori Dortch (Matt), Heidi Yerton (Jeremiah), six great grandchildren, Tyler Robinson, Abby Dortch, Bella Dortch, Samuel King, Jonathan King and Ellie Yerton.

Margarita’s family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to her caregivers at Homestead of Overland Park and Hospice who made her last years comfortable.

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