Hundreds of fans stood in silence as his five children and ex-wife Morah took him back to the north Dublin chapel where he was baptised and married.
His two sons Rex and Elliott, his two brothers Mick and Vincent, film maker David Blake-Knox and Michael O'Connor carried Ryan's coffin into St John the Baptist Church, Clontarf.
Fr Brian D'Arcy - a close friend and regular contributor to Ryan's long-running radio show - told the congregation he felt lonely and broken, like the entire nation.
"None of us who ever knew Gerry Ryan will ever let him die," he said.
He told mourners to comfort one another with Ryan's innumerable stories and to weave them together in fabric in a great compassionate coat of many colours which Gerry's life undoubtedly was.
"I knew Gerry for well over 30 years, in all that time I admired him, was in awe of him, counselled him, was counselled by him. He had a heart as big as a mountain. His vision had no limits. His intelligence was at times bewildering, to him and to me."
'Super dad'
Prayers of the faithful were then read by Ryan's children Babs, Elliott and Bonnie, and his nephew and godchild Lucas.
After communion, boy band Westlife moved to one side of the altar where they performed their hit single You Raise Me Up with members of the gospel choir.
Ryan's brother Vincent, also known as Manno, and his two eldest children, Lottie and Rex, then paid tribute to the broadcaster in a touching eulogy.
"Where can we begin to describe a man that the nation already seems to know so well," said Lottie.
"You all knew Gerry Ryan as the motormouth broadcaster, but obviously what we're more familiar with is him as our loving dad and as our dad he was pretty much a text book super dad."
Lottie told how Ryan would drop anything for his kids, was her best friend and a free guidance counsellor throughout her life.
"To quote one of dad's favourite films Blade Runner 'the light that burns twice as brightly burns twice as fast' and how brightly he has shone," she continued, fighting back tears.
"I guess a lot of people would probably feel robbed of losing a dad so soon, but I can speak on behalf of myself, my brothers and my sisters when I say that we are honoured to be part of the Gerry Ryan show for as long as we were."
Rex described how the DJ was the definition of a cool dad, a rock during his teenage years and a walking encyclopaedia who seemingly knew the answer to every question.
"We had a true father-son trust that stayed strong always," said Rex.
"As I got older I became more fascinated by my dad. The way he entered a room and instantly injected energy to it. The way he captured an audience.
"This was a man who was too big for this world. He shone more brightly than anyone I've come across in my life.
"He was a true believer in cherishing and enjoying life and making every second count, which he most certainly did.
"I will miss my dad greatly and I'm so proud to be his son."
Celebrities
Among the famous faces in the congregation were pop mogul Louis Walsh, Boyzone's Keith Duffy, and Westlife.
The small church was packed with the DJ's friends, including close RTE colleagues Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy and Joe Duffy, who sat alongside President Mary McAleese, Government ministers Eamon Ryan and John Gormley and General David Ashe, acting Chief of Staff for the Irish Defence Forces.
Tens of thousands of fans across the country listened to the funeral Mass live on 2fm, the radio station where Ryan became a household name over the last 30 years.
Ryan, 53, died suddenly last Friday from a suspected massive heart attack.
The broadcaster, who split from his wife after 26 years of marriage in March 2008, was found dead on the floor of his bedroom in his Dublin flat by his partner, Melanie Verwoerd.
Beginning his final journey to Dardistown Cemetery, where he was to be buried in a family plot with his parents, fans broke into applause and formed a guard of honour along the road, tossing a handful of roses on to the passing hearse.