George and Lori Schappell, the world’s oldest conjoined twins, have passed away at the age of 62. The twins, who were previously known as Dori, were born on September 18, 1961, to Franklin and the late Ruth Schappell of Perry Township.
The rare craniopagus twins, who had partially fused skulls, lived in Reading at the time of their death. In 2007, Dori came out as transgender and began identifying as George. Throughout their lives, the twins emphasized the importance of living independently and maintained their own residence since they were 24 years old. They also enjoyed traveling extensively.
Lori and George received significant media attention, appearing on documentaries, talk shows, and even an episode of the television show “Nip/Tuck.” George was a talented country music singer who performed across the United States, while Lori excelled in bowling and worked in the laundry department at Reading Hospital for several years.
The cause of Lori and George’s death was not disclosed, but they passed away at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania on April 7. Their story captivated many, as they were known as the oldest conjoined twins in the world. Their unique bond and individual accomplishments left a lasting impact on those who knew them or followed their journey.
The Schappell Twins’ lives are a testament to resilience and determination in overcoming adversity. Despite being conjoined at birth with partially fused skulls that made everyday life difficult for them throughout their lives, they refused to let it define them or limit their potential.
In recent years, they embraced their individual identities with open arms – Dori came out as transgender in 2007 and identified as George before passing away. This was a courageous move that showed us that everyone has a right to be themselves.
They also emphasized the importance of living independently despite having shared experiences all their lives. They moved out when they turned 24 years old and continued to live independently until their passing.
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