The older the story-teller, the more patient the audience must be, but the pay-off should be a page of dates and notes, the barest outline of a life. With any luck or skill in listening, you will uncover the central drama --the girl that got away but then was gotten back, the battle which claimed a buddy but not your guest, the business that failed and the new start that followed, the illness that was conquered.
The reason that Rose Marie touched so many people was that she told her story in eight short minutes, and it included a long arc and a few poignant moments. There's a Rose Marie in many homes today, with amazing stories to tell.
But first, you have to ask.