Draped in his No 11 All Blacks shirt, Jonah Lomu's coffin was carried by his pallbearers into the South Auckland church where his final farewell was held.
Lomu passed away suddenly at his home in Auckland on 18 November, aged 40. For many years, he battled a rare kidney disorder known as nephrotic syndrome, and required a kidney transplant and dialysis.
His funeral, which took place this morning at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints in Mangere, was attended by 950 family and friends who said their last goodbyes to a much-loved friend, son, brother, cousin, nephew, father and husband.
Lomu's two young sons, Brayley and Dhyreille, took centre stage after the opening songs and prayers to pay a musical tribute to their father.
Dressed in black shirts with the silver fern on the front and Lomu's No 11 on the back, they sang a duet, I am a Child of God.
The service's official eulogy was given by the president of the Auckland New Zealand Mt Roskill stake of the church, Anthony Wilson, who spoke of Lomu's journey of faith.
"He was a big man, an athletic prodigy," he said. "[But] Jonah found a spiritual home close to his South Auckland roots."
He spoke of Lomu's work with the church's youth and others around the country and the world.
"He has lived a life that passed with great abundance; it's time for us to take the baton and move forward."
Other family members and close friends took to the lectern at the front of the church, which had been adorned with a number of pale yellow and white roses, paying tribute to Lomu's life beyond the sports field.
The father of Lomu's wife Nadene, Merv Quirk, spoke about his sadness at losing a son, a son he'd also had the privilege of baptising and welcoming into their church.
"It's [the baptism] a fond memory I have of Jonah," he said. "I was his biggest fan, long before I met him."
Mr Quirk recalled the "heart-warming" good times of seeing the devoted father dance and sing with his boys and wife.
"I'm going to miss him very much, I know Nadene will, the boys will and they were very brave to sing his song."
Lomu's brother, John Lomu, said while he touched the hearts of many people throughout the world, "no one will ever know the pain of a brother or a sister".
He spoke of the good times growing up with his older brother as they "aspired to be the best they could be and follow in the footsteps of our heroes".
John Lomu finished by reading a poem in memory of his brother.
"Jonah, you came into our hearts like lightning in the sky, you came into our lives like a teardrop in my eye, our love is anything and everything till I die. Because of true love, we will never say goodbye."
Dr John Mayhew spoke of how Lomu did not let his medical struggles put him down.
"He dealt with life-threatening illness with no self pity. Jonah to me was humble, no ego, honest in his opinions and generous to a fault ... He even liked having tea in fine china tea cups."
Dr Mayhew described a man who went above and beyond for the children he met through his charitable work. "You have enriched my life in so many ways - rest in peace my friend."
At the end of the almost two-hour-long service, Lomu's sons led the family procession out of the church, holding hands with their grandfather.
Nadene Lomu followed tearfully behind the coffin supported by her mother and other relatives.
Her two young sons helped push their father's coffin into the back of the funeral hearse, getting in the back with it, before it was driven off to the Manukau Memorial Gardens cemetery for a private dedication service.
Yesterday, Nane Malupo, a relative of Jonah Lomu's mother Hepi, said the family were struggling to come to terms with his loss, saying that the funeral would be their hardest day yet. "It is still a shock to us that this has happened."
Malupo said Jonah's mother was particularly struggling with the news. "Hepi is trying to stay strong but deep down inside she is finding it difficult," she said. "She only just lost her husband a few years ago and now she has lost her son. It is very tough on her."
Nadene and her children were the focus of yesterday's public memorial service at Eden Park. They released doves into the crowds, after friends and loved ones spoke movingly about Lomu.
Former All Black Michael Jones praised Nadene for allowing New Zealanders to pay their respects to the rugby legend at different memorial celebrations over the past two weeks.
"We really have to acknowledge Nadene," Jones told Newstalk ZB. "She's let the nation and the different communities in. I think if it was her decision she probably would have just wanted it small and done privately."
