Oldest conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell pass away at 62 | US News
The world’s oldest conjoined twins have passed away at 62 years of age.
Lori and George Schappell were born in 1961 in Pennsylvania, with partially fused skulls and shared vital blood vessels along with 30% of their brain, according to Guinness World Records.
The twins passed away on 7 April at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as stated in an online obituary by Leibensperger Funeral Homes. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Having held the title of the world’s oldest living conjoined twins since 2022, they were also the first same-sex conjoined twins to identify as different genders after George came out as transgender in 2007.
The Schappell twins surpassed medical expectations which predicted they would not live past 30 years and were able to lead separate lives despite being connected.
George had a successful career as a country singer, while Lori excelled as a trophy-winning tenpin bowler, according to Guinness World Records.
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They made appearances in various documentaries and on ITV’s This Morning in September 2011 to share insights into their lives.
Footage of the twins showed Lori, who was able-bodied, pushing George, who had spina bifida, around on a wheelchair-type stool.
They resided in a two-bedroom flat in Pennsylvania and were able to pursue separate interests and shower independently.
When asked about being separated in a 1997 documentary, George firmly stated, “Absolutely not. My theory is: why fix what is not broken?”
Lori and George are survived by their father, six siblings, several nieces and nephews, and a wide circle of friends, as mentioned in the obituaries.
