Lori and George Schappell, the oldest living conjoined twins in recorded history, passed away together on April 7, 2024, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. They were 62 years old. The exact cause of death was never publicly disclosed. Born on September 18, 1961, in West Reading, Pennsylvania, they entered the world joined at the forehead, sharing vital blood vessels and roughly 30% of their brain tissue.
Despite this, they had separate personalities and distinct minds. Doctors gave them almost no chance of long-term survival. They defied those expectations from the very beginning. The twins were two of eight siblings and grew up determined to live as normally as possible.
Both graduated from high school and went on to take college classes. Lori worked for years in a hospital laundry, while her brother George, then living as Dori, pursued a passion for country music. He performed under the stage name Reba, in honor of his favorite singer, Reba McEntire. Despite being physically connected, the twins fiercely protected their individuality.
They lived together in a two-bedroom apartment, respecting each other’s privacy and personal space. Lori would push her brother, who had spina bifida and used a wheeled stool, wherever he needed to go. In 2007, Dori came out publicly as transgender and began living as George. Lori fully supported her brother’s transition, making them the first known conjoined twins to identify as different genders.
George continued his music career, while Lori excelled as a competitive ten-pin bowler, winning multiple trophies. They appeared in documentaries, talk shows, and even an episode of Nip/Tuck. They dated, had friends, and lived life on their own terms. They always insisted they never wanted to be surgically separated.
Their bond was unbreakable. Their services were private, and they were laid to rest at the United Church of Christ Cemetery in Perry Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, close to where they were born and raised. They had far outlived every medical expectation, leaving behind a legacy of courage, love, and the right to live authentically.
Two individuals who were given almost no chance of survival proved that even in the most extraordinary circumstances, the human spirit can endure.