( CNN ) -- Sir Edmund Hillary has been laid to rest in New Zealand after thousands paid tribute to a mountaineer whose conquest of Mt Everest in 1953 was one of the 20th century 's defining moments . A last farewell to Sir Edmund Hillary . Guests filled Auckland 's Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral and an overflow area next door for a service . Among the guests were politicians , mountaineers and friends . Lady Hillary sat with family and Prime Minister Helen Clark . In the congregation were members of Nepal 's Sherpa community and Buddhist monks . In front of them , Hillary 's coffin was draped in a New Zealand flag and covered in wreaths . See photos of the funeral service » . As the service began , Sherpas laid Tibetan prayer scarves on the coffin . In Nepal , schools were due to ring bells as the service started . Hillary 's son , Peter , told the congregation : `` Adventure was compulsory growing up in the Hillary household . He took us to the most extraordinary places . '' His daughter , Sarah spoke of a childhood where Sir Edmund was planning expeditions , and coming home to a family eager to see him again . `` When asked at primary school what my father did , I was unable to find an answer . '' Clark said : `` He was a role model for a generation of New Zealanders ... We mourn as a nation because we know we are saying goodbye to a friend . '' On Monday , New Zealanders filed past Hillary 's casket as they paid final respects in Auckland 's Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral . Four soldiers , rifles at rest , stood guard as ordinary New Zealanders said goodbye to a national hero , whose achievements are known around the world . Hillary 's widow attended the tribute , which featured Maori song and dance . Clark , called it a celebration of a `` very great '' life . Hillary , who was 88 , died at Auckland City Hospital on January 11 . On May 29 , 1953 , Hillary and Tenzing Norgay , a Sherpa guide , became the first men to climb the 29,035 feet to the top of Everest and safely return . Hillary , who served during World War II in the Royal New Zealand Air Force , began climbing while in high school and traveled to the central Himalayas to join a British party exploring the southern face of Everest in 1951 . He returned in 1953 , when he and Norgay made their ascent -- spending 15-30 minutes at the summit . He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on his return to England , but continued exploring -- reaching the South Pole by tractor in 1958 , joining the first group to climb Antarctica 's Mount Herschel in 1967 and boating east Himalayan rivers and the Ganges . His Himalayan Trust has helped build schools , hospitals and airstrips in Nepal since 1961 . He was also a strong supporter of environmental causes and worked to improve the lives of Nepal 's Sherpas . E-mail to a friend .
New Zealand says final goodbye to national hero Sir Edmund Hillary . In the congregation is family , fellow Sherpas , politicians and friends . Hillary and Ivan Norgay were the first men to climb Mount Everest .