The world’s oldest conjoined twins, Lori and her transgender brother George Schappell, have passed away at the age of 62.
Their demise occurred on Sunday, April 7, in a Pennsylvania hospital, with the exact cause of death undisclosed, as stated in their online obituaries published by Leibensperger Funeral Homes.
Born with partially-fused skulls and sharing 30 percent of their brains, Lori and George defied medical expectations that they wouldn’t live past 30.
While Lori enjoyed able-bodiedness, George, affected by spina bifida, relied on a wheelchair, which his twin pushed around. Notably, they were the world’s first same-sex conjoined twins to identify as different genders, with George revealing he was transgender in 2007, embarking on a journey to present himself as a man.
George found success as a country singer, while Lori pursued her passion for ten-pin bowling, garnering trophies along the way. In the ’90s, Lori balanced her work at a hospital laundry with supporting George’s musical endeavors. Their shared success in the country music scene took them on international trips, including visits to Germany and Japan, documented by Guinness World Records.
Their announcement of George’s transition made headlines, marking them as the first same-sex conjoined twins to identify as different genders. Following this revelation, George changed his name from Reba to George, departing from the rhyming names he and Lori shared.
Living independently in a two-bedroom flat in Pennsylvania, the twins indulged in their separate interests, taking turns sleeping in each other’s rooms and showering separately, with the shower curtain serving as a divider while one stood outside the bath.
In a statement issued on Friday, April 12, Guinness World Records expressed their sorrow over the passing of Lori and George Schappell, acknowledging them as the oldest living conjoined twins and the oldest female conjoined twins ever recorded.
