Josefina Mervar was born on January 7, 1932 in the village of Škrjanče, Slovenia to Ivan Mervar and Josefina Janc.

After Josefina's older sisters, Zlata and Cveta, left home for Piran and Ljubljana, respecively, she lived and stayed at Gostilna na Hribu, and lives there to this day (2012).

Since there were two sisters and no brothers, Josefina had to do work of the men after her sisters left home.

Josefina married two times. First time when she was 19 years old. Her first husband became ill and died very young from liver disease. Josefina was overwhelmed, and decided to reopen Gostilna na Hribu (Inn on the Hill).

Josefina has one daughter:

1. Jožica Zalar (June 25, 1951)

Josefina remarried at age 44, eight years after her first husband died. Her second husband was a medical doctor and 12 years her senior. His name was Vladimir Živkovič (September 9, 1919 - September 13, 2003).

She met her second husband while running the Inn. He was a frequent guest and fell in love with her kindness and strong character. He was the son of Slovenian-Croatian parents. He tried to help her so she did not kill herself working so hard. He was a country doctor for Straža – 15 miles from the Inn. They lived much of the time apart.

In the past it was not hard to find help for the Inn and farm. During Socialism help was very hard to find. Josefina's father, Ivan, was an avid hunter, and she learned to hunt from him.

Josefina was very happy that the Inn will stay in the family, because her family is hard working and proud of the homestead.