A Ground Zero FDNY hero who died from a 9/11 illness was memorialized as an “inspiration” to his colleagues at his emotional funeral in Brooklyn on Monday.

Former Deputy Chief James “Jim” Riches Sr., who died on Thanksgiving at 74, set an example for his colleagues as he sifted through the wreckage to find his firefighter son’s remains after the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, grieving colleagues said at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Bay Ridge.

Hundreds of mourners saluted Riches’ casket at the church – a scene reminiscent of when the Riches family buried their son, Jimmy Jr., about 24 years ago.

Riches, the 30-year FDNY veteran, ultimately spent months at Ground Zero as he and others never wavered on recovery efforts, grieving colleagues said.

“I can remem

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