Ivana Zorman

Ivana Zorman, also known as Ivana Sorman (6 June 1836 – 22 February 1922), was a Slovenian headmistress of an orphanage and a humanitarian worker. She founded and led three orphanages in Trieste and helped with founding of orphanage in Sarajevo.

Early life Ivana Zorman was born on 6 June 1836 in Žeje near Postojna into a Slovenian family. Her mother was the farmer Marija Dolenc and her father was the farmer Matej Zorman. As a young girl she moved to Trieste, where she found employment as a maid for a wealthy Jewish family. Ivana traveled to Sarajevo to help found the orphanage. She also encouraged some of the Trieste staff to go there. In 1892 three young women from Trieste moved to Sarajevo, where they worked in the new orphanage and later joined the newly founded Congregation of the Sisters Servants of the Infant Jesus (Croatian: Družba sestara Služavki Malog Isusa). One of them became headmistress of the orphanage. All three had been raised in Saint Joseph’s Orphanage. Over the next few years, a total of nine women formerly employed at the Trieste orphanage moved to Sarajevo orphanage.

Papal award In 1905 Ivana received the papal decoration Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Pius X for her selfless work. On that occasion, the Trieste newspaper Novi list wrote: "The highly esteemed Ivana Zorman, until now director of the Saint Joseph’s Orphanage in Trieste, has been honored by the Holy Father with the Cross 'Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice'. Our noble compatriot has done so much for the orphans that it can hardly be described. Everyone admired her work, and she was respected by all. Yet she always remained humble and full of Christian charity, especially toward abandoned children. Because she served so selflessly in the spirit of the Church and the Holy Father, she has received this distinction."

Later life and death In 1905 Ivana, due to her age, entrusted the administration of Saint Joseph’s Orphanage to the Sisters of the Holy Cross from Graz. She herself moved into Nazareth House and became its headmistress. In a nearby building she also established an orphanage for boys, of which she likewise became headmistress. In 1921 she handed over the administration of Nazareth House and the boys’ orphanage to the Sisters of the Holy Cross who were already working at Saint Joseph’s orphanage. She remained at Nazareth House, helping to care for toddlers until her death on 22 February 1922 in Trieste. Her tombstone in Trieste and the memorial plaque at the entrance to Saint Joseph’s Orphanage describe her as "the poor and humble mother of abandoned orphans".