Lori and George Schappell, conjoined twins who lived extraordinary lives pursuing separate careers, interests, and relationships, passed away this month in Pennsylvania at the age of 62. According to Guinness World Records, they were the oldest living conjoined twins.
Born on September 18, 1961, in West Reading, Pennsylvania, the twins defied medical expectations, with Lori stating in an interview on their 50th birthday that doctors hadn’t expected them to live past 30. Despite being joined at the skull and having distinct brains, Lori and George, who transitioned to male in 2007, strived to live as independently as possible.
Both twins graduated from high school and took college classes. Lori worked in a hospital laundry for six years, with George accompanying her, before giving up the job in 1996 so that George could pursue a country music career. The twins maintained their own residence and traveled extensively, appearing in documentaries, talk shows, and even an episode of the FX medical drama “Nip/Tuck.”
According to the obitutuary notice, Lori was a “trophy-winning bowler,” and was once engaged to be married, only for her fiance to die tragically in a traffic collision. The twins discussed their need for compromise and privacy in a 1997 documentary, with George emphasizing the importance of giving loved ones the same respect and privacy one would want for themselves.
Conjoined twins occur once in every 50,000 to 60,000 births, with about 70% being female and most being stillborn. Only a small percentage are joined at the head. Separation was considered risky for the Schappell twins, but Lori told The Associated Press in 2002 that she didn’t want a separation that wasn’t medically necessary.
In a 2007 documentary, George agreed, saying, “Why fix what is not broken?”
The Schappell twins are survived by their father and six siblings, with private services being planned by the funeral home. It is unclear who will now hold the title of the oldest living conjoined twins.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.