The Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow and Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman were among the mourners at David Taylor's funeral today.
The Leicestershire North West MP died on Boxing Day.
Labour MPs Peter Soulsby, Keith Vaz, Frank Dobson and Dennis Skinner and Tory MP Edward Garnier also attended the service in at St John the Baptist Church, in Taylor's home village of Heather, Leicestershire.
The Leicester Mercury reported that hundreds of people "filled the church yard, where the service was broadcast on loud speakers, and lined the nearby street".
Tributes were paid to Taylor at prime minister's questions on Wednesday.
"He was a tremendous constituency Member of Parliament who thoroughly deserved the accolade of backbencher of the year for his tireless work for the people of North-West Leicestershire," said Gordon Brown.
"He will be greatly missed, not only by his family who are here in the House today, but by colleagues in Westminster and all his constituents."
Conservative leader David Cameron paid tribute to Taylor's "contribution to public service".
"We, too, send our condolences to his wife and children," he said.
"He was diligent, decent and determined.
"As one obituary brilliantly put it, he 'was that rare thing among politicians: someone who was liked and admired equally by his constituents, his parliamentary colleagues and his political opponents'. He will be sadly missed."
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said:
"I was once one of the MEPs for his area, and he had a reputation then-and always has-as an outstanding constituency MP and someone who always spoke his own mind.
"My heart goes out to his wife Pam and his four daughters."
The 63-year-old, who was first elected in 1997, died on December 26 after he suffered a heart attack while out walking in Calke Abbey, Derbyshire, with his family.
In 2007 he was named Backbencher of the Year at The House Magazine awards.
A member of the chairmen's panel committee and the environment, food and rural affairs committee, Taylor also chaired the all-party parliamentary group on smoking and health.
He had already announced he would not stand at the next election.
While it is usual practice for a writ for a by-election to be moved within two or three months of the death of a member, there is no legal requirement to do so.
By-elections have been delayed in the past because of an imminent general election.
With speculation that the general election may be called as soon as March 25, it has been widely reported that the government will opt to delay the vote in North West Leicestershire until the national polling day.
