A multitude of claims sharing a photograph alleging to depict a gravestone of twin sisters who died over 100 years apart spread on social media in April 2025.
Users on platforms such as Facebook (archived), X (archived) and Instagram (archived) shared the same photograph, which depicts the apparent pillar-shaped gravestone of Emily E. Dodsworth and Minnie G. Dodsworth.
The dates beneath Emily's name read "Nov. 10-Nov. 12, 1910," along with the words, "Adieu sweet babe, short was thy stay just looked around then called away." Underneath is Minnie's name with the dates "1910 - 2011."
The same image has been shared online since at least 2022, where it was the subject of multiple Reddit threads and a story on Newsweek.
This gravestone is shared by twin sisters: one lived for just two days, the other for 101 years. pic.twitter.com/j6WgGu3v4z
— Fascinating (@fasc1nate) March 19, 2025
Claims that the photograph authentically depicts a gravestone of twin sisters who died over 100 years apart are true. The tombstone in question is in Fairview Lawn Cemetery at 3720 Windsor St. in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The gravestone is available to view on gravesite locator website FindAGrave.com, which features listings for both Emily E. Dodsworth and Minnie Grace Dodsworth. A listing on BillionGraves.com depicts another photograph of the same gravestone from an alternate angle that matches the one shared in the claim. Keen-eyed viewers will note the gravestones pictured behind the Dodsworth's match in both photos.
According to the gravestone, Emily Dodsworth passed away on Nov. 12, 1910, aged only two days old. The cause of death was aspiration pneumonia, according to the official record of death available to view in the Nova Scotia archives. Her twin sister, Minnie, died on Jan. 8, 2011.
(Nova Scotia Archives/Snopes Illustration)
The official birth record verifies Emily and Minnie as twins born on Nov. 10, 1910. Though their first names do not appear on the record, the Nova Scotia archives also document a letter dated July 24, 1951, written by their brother Harold, clarifying Minnie's given name (Emily's was noted on the death record).
(Nova Scotia Archives/Snopes Illustration)
Further, both FindAGrave and BillionGraves display the gravestone of the twins' parents, Leslie and Ada, in the same cemetery with a similarly shaped gravestone. The names of the parents listed on those gravestones match the names listed on the birth record of the twins.
While the gravestone in the photograph is authentic, it should be noted that many of the posts sharing the claims purport that Minnie Dodsworth was 101 at the time of her passing, but based on her birth and death dates and her obituary, she was actually 100.
The elder Dodsworth's obituary is available to read on the Dignity Memorial website, "a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers," which includes the Cruikshanks Funeral Home in Halifax where Minnie Dodson's memorial services were held, according to the obituary.
Her obituary reads in full:
DODSWORTH, Minnie Grace – 100 yrs, Northwood Centre, passed away on January 8, 2011. Born in Halifax, she was the daughter of the late Leslie and Ada (Morgan) Dodsworth. For years she was the secretary at West End United Baptist Church, and provided piano accompaniment with the organist at regular services as well as their other church functions. She was devoted to her church and gave many long hours. She is survived by her sister-in-law Jean Dodsworth and niece Nancy, both of Vancouver, B.C. She was predeceased by her twin sister Emily and brother Harold. The body is resting at Cruikshanks Halifax Funeral Home, 2666 Windsor St., Halifax. Visitation 2-4 p.m. on Thursday, January 13th only. Funeral service Friday, January 14th at 1 p.m., West End United Baptist Church, Rev. Nolan Lee officiating. Burial in Fairview Cemetery. No flowers by request. Memorial donations to West End United Baptist Church.
The obituary page also reads, "in care of J.A. Snow Funeral Home." Snopes contacted both funeral homes via telephone to verify the reasons two different funeral homes were listed, but neither could give information, citing privacy laws. However, J.A. Snow is also part of the Dignity Memorial network.
Further, the brother who wrote the 1951 letter and is named in Minnie Dodsworth's obituary, Harold Dodsworth, can also be found on FindAGrave.com, having passed away in 1980. The Dodsworths are all listed as one another's siblings, though the site lists Harold as buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Fairview Lawn Cemetery is also notable for being the resting place of 150 victims of the sinking of the Titanic, according to Nova Scotia's website. Halifax served as an important base of operations for recovery efforts in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.