The grieving mother of a Brockley restaurant owner who died has thanked the “wonderful” community for its support, which she described as “out of this world.”

Rodolfo (Rudi) Piscina, 56, had a heart attack and sadly passed away in March. He had owned the Longhorn Diner on Brockley Road since August 2015.

He left behind his wife, Gaetana, and three children; Maria Rosa, Raffaela and Aldo.

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Family photos of Rudi in his younger years

Since his death, Crofton Park residents turned up in their hundreds to pay respects to the much-loved chef at his funeral. They have also decided to install a bench in Crofton Park Railway Garden in Rudi’s memory, to be unveiled on June 1.

“It is so wonderful - out of this world,” Rudi’s mother Maria, originally from Borgo Val Di Taro in Parma, Italy, told News Shopper.

The 85-year-old, who has lived on Brockley Grove since 1982, added: “I’ve never seen so many people – they put so many flowers outside the shop.”

She joked Brockley reminded her of Eastenders or Coronation Street because of the close-knit nature of the community.

Rudi’s son, Aldo, described the family’s surprise at the number of people who attended Rudi’s funeral, with guests spilling into the aisles.

He said: “We were so shocked and amazed at how many people turned up to the funeral. We invited 80-100 people, which is already a lot, but about 300 people came in the end.”

Aldo, the youngest of three children, worked with his father in the diner after it opened in 2015. He remembered his father as having a “cheeky smile” as he welcomed customers to the restaurant.

“It was a real family affair. My mum would also come and help every day after 3pm when she finished working at St Francesca Primary School,” he said.

“I stayed working there for about 10 months – he loved his customers.”

Longhorn Diner was not the first restaurant Rudi owned; he also ran Rudi’s Bar in central London between 1999 and 2015 before closing down and moving to Brockley.

“He was a good chef. A good husband and a good son,” Maria said.

Maria fondly described her son as a hard worker who always put his family first – particularly when she and her husband, 89-year-old Aldo Sr., had operations.

“He was always worried about us; about the kids; about the family; and he never put himself first. I’ve got a lovely memory of him,” she gushed.

The Piscinas also described how delighted Rudi was to see all his children graduate from university.

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Rudi's family said he was so proud to see his children graduate from university.

“He was so proud of us,” Aldo laughed, fondly remembering a photo of his father donning a graduation gown and hat while at his daughter’s ceremony.

Since Rudi’s death, the family has found comfort in knowing how heavily he impacted the community, and describe as a "community champion."

Aldo told News Shopper: “One thing I’m so happy about is the impact he had. When I grow up and I become a father I want to help anyone I can, like he did. I want to make sure I follow in his footsteps.”

Despite the family’s grief, Maria said family ties and community support are helping them deal with their loss.

She said: “My heart is broken for him, but little by little we’ll get through.

“We are together and that is the most important thing. If you don’t stick together, it’s finished.”

Maria’s words, translated from Italian, will be inscribed on Rudi’s bench. They read: “Loving you is easy, forgetting you is impossible.”