Gathering Family Stories—Part 1
Often family heirlooms are passed down to loved ones but the family stories are lost.
Join me in Gathering Family Stories—Part 1
Here are questions to ask your parents. If your parents have passed, ask yourself (their siblings, your siblings…) these questions.
About Your Mother’s Side
If your ancestors emigrated from another country, from where did they come from? When? How did they come? Where did they settle and why?
What do you remember about your oldest relative(s) you knew personally?
When and where were your mother’s mother and father born? What was her mother’s maiden name?
Describe the kind of persons they were?
If you have inherited any of the characteristics of your mother’s parents, describe what they are and how you feel about them?
What do you know about their values, philosophies and religious beliefs?
What kind of work did your mother’s parents do?
What else would you like to say about them?
About Your Mother
Has your mother shared any stories she knew about her parent’s childhood?
When and where was your mother born? Where did she grow up? What was her maiden name?
Tell about the family in which your mother grew up. Do you know what her childhood was like? Do you remember any stories she told you about it?
What memories do you have of your mother during your childhood?
Describe your mother’s work, both in and out of the home.
What other interests did she have? What were her hobbies and what did she do for fun?
Which of your mother’s physical and personality characteristics did you inherit?
Describe her best qualities.
Describe your mother’s traits with which you are least compatible.
Did she experience much sadness or tragedy while you were little? How did she deal with it?
What is the happiest memory you have of your mother?
What is the most painful memory you have of her?
Tell about your mother’s spiritual or religious beliefs.
If she is deceased, how and when did she die? Where is she buried?
What are the most important things you learned from your mother?
What else do you remember about her?
About Your Father’s Side
If your ancestors emigrated from another country, from where did they come from? When? How did they come? Where did they settle and why?
What do you remember about your oldest relative(s) you knew personally?
When and where were your father’s mother and father born? What was his mother’s maiden name?
Describe the kind of persons they were.
If you have inherited any of the characteristics of your father’s parents, describe what they are and how you feel about them.
What do you know about their values, philosophy, and religious beliefs?
What kind of work did your father’s parents do?
What else would you like to say about them?
About Your Father
Has your father shared any stories she knew about his parent’s childhood?
When and where was your father born? Where did he grow up?
Tell about the family in which your father grew up. Do you know what his childhood was like? Do you remember any stories he told you about it?
What memories do you have of your father during your childhood?
Describe your father’s work, both in and out of the home.
What other interests did he have? What were his hobbies and what did he do for fun?
Which of your father’s physical and personality characteristics did you inherit?
Describe his best qualities.
Describe your father's traits with which you are least compatible.
Did he experience much sadness or tragedy while you were little? How did he deal with it?
What is the happiest memory you have of your father?
What is the most painful memory you have of him?
Tell about your father’s spiritual or religious beliefs.
If he is deceased, how and when did he die? Where is he buried?
What are the most important things you learned from your father?
What else do you remember about him?
From the book, The Story of a Lifetime: A Keepsake of Personal Memoirs by Pamela and Stephen Pavuk
Keep an eye out on our blog for the next set of questions, Gathering Family Stories—Part 2
Tumbleweed Found works closely with families who've lost a loved one. When the family (and/or Trust) is ready, we offer a free consultation and an estate walk-through. We bring a calm loving presence to help strategize what is needed to carryout the wishes of the deceased. This is done with great organization and utmost respect.
Depending on the situation, we offer:
Asset inventory
Coordination and referral for formal appraisals
Estate sale preparations-sorting, staging and pricing
Coordination of private buying appointments
Consignment services
Advertising
Public Estate Sale (on or off-site)
Accounting report
Final clear out of estate
