At the age of 62, the world’s oldest conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, passed away on April 7 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as stated in their obituaries shared online by the Leibensperger Funeral Homes. Guinness World Records also verified their deaths in a public announcement.
”Guinness World Records are saddened to learn of the passing of Lori and George Schappell, the world’s oldest conjoined twins. George enjoyed a successful career as a country singer, whilst Lori was a trophy-winning ten-pin bowler,” GWR wrote in a post on X.
The Guinness World Records website confirms that Lori and George, aged 62 years and 202 days, held the title of the oldest living conjoined twins.
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Born on September 18, 1961, Lori and George shared partially fused skulls, vital blood vessels, and 30% of their brains. Despite being joined at the head, they led distinct lives and pursued different careers.
George found success as a country singer, while Lori excelled as a trophy-winning ten-pin bowler. In the ’90s, Lori also worked at a hospital laundry, adjusting her schedule around George’s music tours that spanned across Germany, Japan, and other countries.
Notably, in 2007, George publicly embraced his transgender identity and began presenting as a man, marking the twins as the world’s first same-sex conjoined twins to identify as different genders.
The twins lived independently in a two-bedroom apartment in Pennsylvania, where they alternated nights between their rooms and respected each other’s privacy. They managed to lead separate lives while cherishing their unique bond.
In a documentary from 1997, Lori and George mentioned that they followed different bathing schedules and took turns showering one at a time. They utilized the shower curtain as a partition, ensuring one could shower while the other remained outside the bath.
They also conveyed their strong desire to never be separated. “Would we be separated? Not. My theory is: why fix what is not broken?” George had said.
Lori and George are survived by their father, six siblings, numerous nieces and nephews, and a wide circle of friends who are considered family.
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