Funny you say that.
My dads parents and moms parents came off a boat in the early 1900's, and the reality is most of the family knows nothing about our past history before, say, 1905-1910.
We know the countries they came from and perhaps why, but not all the details.
My mom and her mother visited "Russia" back around 1975 (known as "the old country") What I remember is that a member of the government was with them at all times, and they actually did visit family there. I really wish I knew now to keep and preserve the information they collected back then.
The reality is when my dads parents came off the boat in the early 1900's, we had 2 different last name "changes" by 1940. The idea was to make the last name more easy to read and pronounced in the English language.
I've said this before here... My grandparents came to the US and they didn't have a pot to piss in. Both of my grandfathers died at a early age due to working in the coal mines. That said, some of their kids "made it". Those grandparents sacrificed themselves so their families could do better. Interesting concept today... (although I don't try to lose that on my son).
Sidenote, talked to my aunt yesterday. She is a good woman, but is 94 now. She mentioned that the Orthodox church in America does not believe in cremation. I was nice, but it was hard LOL (my dad was cremated per his own wishes after he saw the advantages when he went to his brothers funeral).
Thing is, some religions don't think you can go to the heaven as you understand it if you don't follow their "religious" rules. Exactly where in the Bible does it say you can't be creamated? Sorry, off on a tangent LMAO