Just learn to ask the right questions. But most people do not have instant recall of such details. The secret of obtaining family history information is to let your relatives talk about themselves and gently interject questions that will stir their memories about particulars. If you have the opportunity to visit with older relatives during the holidays, ask them about the one they remember best.
Memory is a selective thing.
For example, your grandmother may not recall the exact dates her grandparents died, but by asking her if they died before she was married, before or after World War II, or when she was in school, it may jog her memory into a more precise time. For a genealogist, any time frame is better than none. Here are some guidelines and suggested questions to get your relatives talking about family history. Describe their early religious training. Animals and pets.