(transitory fame vs. significant family connection)
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cannot be trusted. Many good, fine individuals are simply not remembered, appreciated, or revered enough. Welles speaks of France’s forgetting Anatole France and Andre Malraux as well as Americans forgetting F. Scott Fitzgerald (whose books were out of print when he was still alive in his last 5 years) and William Faulkner (who was once world-famous). Long-term fame is fickle except for a relatively handful of greats.
In Canadian literature, I would predict that, after their deaths, only Atwood and Cohen will be remembered long-term (along with Alice Munro for a shorter time).
In any case, posterity per se is a limted ego thing. It is far more important to lead a good, honest life being true to oneself and family. That is much more satisfying and fulfilling in any case.