Your life didn’t begin on your birthday. It began with your ancestors—your grandparents and your parents.

I was lucky enough to know three grandparents. I’ll always remember the morning my sweet, gentle Grandma Henley conned me and my cousin into sneaking down Hollyhock Lane, which was really the alley that ran behind her house, and steal cherries off Mrs. Phelps cherry tree. Our incentive was the promise of Grandma’s too-good-for-this-world cherry pie.

Even if you didn’t know your grandparents, you probably heard stories about them. Take your grandparents, one at a time, and tell stories that bring them to life.

The following prompts will get you started:

What was his/her full name, including maiden name for women?

When and where was he/she born?

Tell a story about his/her childhood.

Did he/she immigrate to America? When? Where did he/she settle? Why? Tell immigration stories.

Did he/she speak English upon arrival? Tell a story about how he/she learned to speak English.

How did he/she make a living?

Tell a story about him/her overcoming challenges.

Describe his/her looks. Do you or other family members share the same physical characteristics?

Tell a story about his/her “quirks.” Do you or other family members share the same idiosyncrasies?  

Tell a story about a time you did something special with him/her.

Tell a story about the role he/she played in your life.

When did he/she die?

What was the cause of his/her death?

Where is he/she buried?

What is his/her legacy?

What else do you want future generations to know about him/her?