Mr Papaioanou, 59, spent more than 40 years of his life filling the bellies of families in the Riverina with his famous fish and chips.

A following of dedicated customers followed him from the shop he owned at Kooringal Mall for 10 years to the New Oceanic Fish Shop on Morgan Street in central Wagga when it opened in 1987.

Prior to moving to Wagga, he worked at a fish and chip shop in West Wyalong before, at just 22 years old, he ventured into business on his own at Junee when he purchased The Olympic Cafe.

Yesterday, his devastated nephew Kosta Papaioanou and wife Angela, paid tribute to a man who lived for his family.

Kosta and Angela took over New Oceanic in June last year so Mr Papaioanou could start taking things a little more slowly.

"He was meant to retire but he pretty much got diagnosed (with cancer) the day he walked out of the shop," said Kosta.

"Every bad stage of cancer that he could go through, he went through. He didn't cop a break, the poor guy."

"He was an amazing person," said Angela.

"From taking over the shop, we realised how many people cared about him. His customers always asked about him. People who came in to the shop as kids were coming in with their kids."

Mr Papaioanou's brother Archie was with him when he passed away at 10pm on Sunday.

His sisters, Helen and Yiota, arrived in Wagga from Greece just last week.

Mr Papaioanou is survived by his wife Georgina and daughters Faye, 23 and Voula, 17.

A funeral service is to be held on Wednesday at noon at the Greek Orthodox Church on Tompson Street.