Endon was respected for her humble, unassuming personality. She was popularly referred to as "Kak Endon," or "Elder Sister Endon." She discovered she had cancer in 2002 after her twin sister, Noraini, was earlier diagnosed with the disease. Noraini died in 2003. Endon had a breast removed and traveled to the United States regularly for treatment. She returned to Malaysia from Los Angeles on Oct. 1 after five rounds of chemotherapy since July. Endon had been deeply involved in awareness programs for breast cancer, the main cause of illness-related fatalities for Malaysian women. She has said she refused to feel sorry for herself, and felt fortunate she could obtain the best medical treatment.
Noraini had a twin sister called Endon.