Lori and George Schappell, recognized as the world’s most senior conjoined twins, have passed away.
Their demise occurred on April 7 due to undisclosed reasons, as stated in the combined obituaries issued by Leibensperger Funeral Homes in Hamburg, Pennsylvania.
Born on September 18, 1961, in Pennsylvania, the Schappell twins, aged 62 years and 202 days, held the title of the oldest living conjoined twins, as verified by the Guinness World Records website.
Previously identified as the oldest female conjoined twins, they held this distinction until 2007 when George Schappell revealed himself as transgender. This revelation made them the first pair of same-sex conjoined twins to identify with different genders.
The Schappell twins, conjoined at the cranium, shared crucial blood vessels and 30% of their brains, signifying a rare form of conjoined twinning, constituting only 2-6% of cases.
Physically connected at the forehead, facing opposite directions, they were incapable of seeing each other, as documented in a 2005 feature about the Schappell siblings in New York.
During their era, separation surgeries for conjoined twins like them were unfeasible and were never a desire for the Schappells.
Despite their physical attachment, their lives diverged significantly.
Lori Schappell possessed the ability to walk, while her brother, four inches shorter, suffered from spina bifida, rendering him unable to ambulate independently. Lori would often propel her sibling around on a mobile stool.
George Schappell pursued a career as a professional country singer for many years, securing performances even abroad. Meanwhile, Lori earned a college degree and pursued employment in a hospital. While Lori packed medical instruments, George would engross himself with a book, as shared with the Los Angeles Times.
Growing up together, they devised ingenious methods to accommodate each other’s needs, such as coordinating their bathing schedules to allow one twin to shower while the other remained dry.
Initially residing in an institution for individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Schappell twins were placed there by their apprehensive and bewildered parents. Their release from the institution occurred after former Pennsylvania governor Richard Thornburgh’s wife assisted in demonstrating to state authorities that they did not possess intellectual disabilities.
Subsequently, they relocated to a senior-friendly high-rise apartment in Reading, Pennsylvania, where they lived independently.
The Schappell twins were the subjects of numerous television documentaries and talk shows.
Additionally, they made an appearance in a 2004 episode of “Nip/Tuck,” portraying fictional conjoined twins Rose and Raven Rosenberg, as documented on IMDB.com.
