Hearse Show Collects $1K, Truckload of School Supplies for Lemont Foundation

A group of hearse enthusiasts collected nearly $1,000 for Lemont's Hope and Friendship Foundation on Saturday during the 15th annual "Greatest Show Unearthed" convention.

The show, sponsored by the Plainfield-based LasRyds Hearse Club, was held Saturday afternoon in the Talcott Square parking lot in downtown Lemont. Hundreds turned out for the event, which featured a display of hearses, Halloween and funeral-themed vendors, a costume contest and charity raffles.

This year, all vendor registration fees and proceeds from special raffles were donated to the Lemont-based Hope and Friendship Foundation, an organization that provides year-round assistance to those in need.

LasRyds members raised nearly $1,000 for Hope and Friendship on Saturday, according to Kim Peters, vendor coordinator and owner of Aurora Rose Boutique in Lemont.

The group also collected a truckload of school supplies for Lemont students, and a hearse full of food for the Lemont food pantries, Peters said.

The LasRyds Hearse Club was founded in 1994 by Troy Hambly, the owner of Hambly Funeral Services in Plainfield. The group, which has more than 700 members worldwide, is dedicated to the ownership and preservation of funeral vehicles old and new.

For the past 15 years, the group has held the "Greatest Show Unearthed" as a way to showcase funeral vehicles and educate the public while also aiding local charities.

For more information on the event, visit www.facebook.com/LasRydsHearseShow.