Rebecca and Stephanie, those conjoined twins born last week, died on Saturday evening

Although the twins made small improvements after their birth, their circulatory system and other shared organs made long-term survival impossible, Jansen said.

The Rev. John Boyanowski, the maternal grandfather, was optimistic at two news conferences this week. He gave credit to God for bringing his granddaughters as far as they have come.

“God’s in control of all this,” he said.