Hookey Adoption Case

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Jones,

These are consolidated appeals from companion adoption decrees 1 rendered by the Orphans’ Court of Delaware County on April 28, 1965.

On April 9, 1965, Joan Hookey Carpenter (natural mother), the natural mother of the two children whose adoption is presently at issue, petitioned the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County for a hearing to secure the custody of and/or visitation rights to her two children. The two children, aged nine and seven respectively, were at that time residing with their natural father, Edwin L. Hookey, Jr. (natural father), and his present…