Duka Mandic

Spread the word about a children's charity with social media

Georgina-Đuka Tesla, nee Mandić, (1822 - April 4, 1882) was born in Tomin gaj (translated as "Tomo's grove" - named after her great-grandfather). She invented devices and tools, and was talented at handiwork and crafts.

She was the daughter of the Serbian Orthodox priest Nikola Mandić (1800 - 1863) from Gračac. Her mother was blinded when she was 16 years old and so she took care of her seven younger siblings until her marriage. She married the Serb Orthodox Reverend Milutin Tesla in 1847. She was illiterate, though she was far more talented than expected. She was Nikola Tesla's mother, and was the oldest of eight children.

Djuka had five children with Milutin Tesla. Their names were:

Dane (1848 - 1963)

Angelina (married name: Trbojevic; married a Serbian Orthodox priest)

Milka (married name: Glumicic; married a Serbian Orthodox priest)

Nikola (1856 - 1943) [the fourth child]

Marica (married name: Kosanovic; married a Serbian Orthodox priest)

She was gifted with a sense of intuition and bestowed inventiveness on her children. Nikola was born "at the stroke of midnight" during a summer storm and lightning. The midwife commented, "He'll be a child of the storm," to which Đuka replied, "No, of light."

Djuka moved to Gospić in 1862 with her family.

In 1879, when Milutin died, Đuka lived in Gospić, with her brother, Priest Petar. Đuka died on Easter Saturday at one o'clock in the morning. She was buried beside her husband, in the JaÚikovac cemetery in Divoselo. Nikola raised individual tombstoness of white marble (of similar height and likeness) to each of his parents. On Đuka's stone was written:

Đuka Tesla

Wife of Priest Tesla

Đuka Tesla's birth house in Tomin gaj was under the protection of the state from 1945 to 1991, but later fell into disrepair and ruin.

Links, References, Resources

Serbian National Federation Information