After the decision by the Kessler Twins, Alice and Ellen, to end their lives together, they expressed a final heartfelt desire. Hailing from the Nerchau region of Germany, the sisters’ journey to fame began as young ballet performers at the Leipzig Opera. Fleeing East Germany for the West in 1952, the twins, aged 16, harbored aspirations for a grand future.
Their talent shone across Europe, capturing the attention of renowned figures like Elvis Presley. Settling in Italy in 1962, Alice and Ellen took the ’60s by storm, captivating American audiences on popular shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show. Their illustrious career intertwined with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Eddie Fisher.
Approaching the end of their lives, the sisters chose to depart together through assisted suicide on the same day, staying true to their shared wishes. In a 2024 interview with Bild, the twins, who remained active in the industry until the end, discussed their desire to have their ashes combined in an urn with their mother, Elsa, and their dog, Yello, as stated in their will.
Alice and Ellen, having never married or had children to inherit their undisclosed wealth, originally intended to leave everything to Doctors Without Borders. However, they later decided to distribute their fortune among multiple charities, including CBM blind mission, UNICEF, Paul Klinger Artists’ Social Welfare Fund, and the German Foundation for Patient Protection.
Ellen explained their reasoning, emphasizing the importance of fair distribution and the impact of their disciplined financial management. The siblings’ substantial inheritance includes a property with a vast garden and pool, reflecting their disciplined approach to life’s end.
German publication Bild reported that Alice and Ellen opted for medical-assisted aid to end their lives, a legal option in Germany. While assisted dying remains partially regulated in the country, a significant 2020 Constitutional Court ruling affirmed the right to self-determined death, allowing legally permissible assisted suicide.
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