Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

March 13, 2023

CHARLOTTE – Diana Cabonargi Hape passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Brookdale Carriage Club Providence.  She was born January 24, 1927, in Highland Park, IL to Joseph and Lillian Cabonargi.    

Diana graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree.  While there she was a member of one of the first co-ed Yell Leader Squads at the School (now known as cheerleaders).   It was there that she met James M. Hape (known as Budd) who she married on September 16, 1950 and celebrated fifty years of marriage together.     

Diana had the opportunity to live in numerous cities during her life including Columbus, Ohio, Gary, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mission Viejo, California; Flat Rock, NC and Charlotte, where she spent the last twenty-five years of her life.   During her time in Charlotte, she spent countless hours babysitting her grandchildren, Will, Diana and Sally Dowd and traveling with her daughter, Janis.  Janis held a festive birthday party every year for her mother, stopping this tradition only when the pandemic arrived.   

Everywhere she lived she was involved in her local church, singing in the choir, playing the recorder, working in the kitchen and serving meals among other things.  Speaking of food, many of us are still enjoying her awesome cheesecake recipe!     

Diana was active playing golf into her 90s!  She also enjoyed swimming, boating and walking on the beach.  When she was in college, she took flight lessons and earned her pilot’s license.  She and her husband, sister, and brother-in-law, Bob Strieby, sailed the British Virgin Islands on a 46-foot sailboat/yacht.  The onset of the pandemic slowed her down a little as it cut out her trips to the YWCA to swim, exercise, and do yoga, but she still took her daily walks in the neighborhood.  Perhaps hardest was the loss of her church fellowship.     

Diana is survived by her son, Jeffrey M. Hape and his wife, Suzie; son-in-law, Frank Dowd IV; grandchildren, Jonathan M. Hape and his wife, Casey, Amber Fortunato and her husband, Tony, Will, Sally, and Diana Dowd and great-grandchildren, Beckett Coghlan and Vera Fortunato.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Lillian Cabonargi; husband, James M. Hape; son, Gary M. Hape, and daughter, Janis H. Dowd; brother, Ted Lent and sister, Juul Strieby.    

Services will be private.

The family would like to thank all her neighbors and friends, her church family, her caregivers especially her two guardian angels, Brigid Thomas and Mary Graham for their care, love, and support during her last years.  Indeed, Diana’s was a life well-lived!

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.