Council has postponed Tuesday night's council meeting for a week and the council flags at the Orange Civic Centre were lowered to half-mast on Monday in memory of Cr Previtera.

Orange mayor Reg Kidd said it was expected council would continue with 11 councillors until the general election due in September next year.

Cr Previtera died in Orange Hospital after the recurrence of his illness.

Cr Kidd said Cr Previtera was well-respected.

"He was a very sincere and humble person," he said.

"He was born and bred here in Orange."

Cr Kidd said Cr Previtera attended James Sheahan Catholic High School.

"I admire people that put their hand up and run for council. He did that," he said.

"Nothing was ever too much of a task for him. He will be sadly missed."

He said Cr Previtera lived with his brother, Fred.

Close friend and deputy mayor Sam Romano said he was "numb with emotion" following the death.

"He was a lovely man. He was a special person," he said.

"He was a peacemaker. He was very intelligent."

Cr Romano said Cr Previtera was an electrician who had worked for Essential Energy for more than 30 years.

"He was very highly regarded."

Cr Previtera and Cr Romano were the first Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party candidates to be elected in a local government election in NSW, in 2017.

Member for Orange Phil Donato, who also represents the SFF, said he was shocked at the news.

Mr Donato said Cr Previtera first contracted the illness about 18 months ago.

However, Mr Donato said he had recovered only to get an infection.

"It was very sudden. I knew he had cancer. He was on the mend," he said.

In a post on Facebook Mr Donato said Cr Previtera was a "true gentleman. [He] possessed the rare trait of never speaking ill-words about anyone," he said.

"He was steadfastly loyal, always reliable, kind natured, generous, very approachable and he always had a happy and positive disposition.

"Mario always listened, he was a man of few words, but people took notice of what Mario had to say.

"On behalf of my family, the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party, and the community of Orange, I send heartfelt condolences to Mario's family, his friends and colleagues who will all miss him dearly."

Cr Previtera was the chair of council's Environmental Sustainability Policy committee.