Anecdotes

Identical twin sister of Abigail Van Buren (who wrote for the advice column "Dear Abby"). She is 17 minutes older than Abby.

A 1978 World Almanac survey named her the most influential woman in the United States.

At the time of her death, her column was carried in more than 1,200 newspapers around the world, with a readership of 90 million.

Once referred to Pope John Paul II as a "polack" but later apologized for doing so.

Coined the phrase "wake up and smell the coffee".

Daughter, Margo Howard, also had an advice column, called "Dear Prudence", which appears in Slate magazine.

Popular newspaper advice columnist.

Attended Morningside College.

She and her sister and their husbands married in a double ceremony.

Was the daughter of Russian immigrants.

Her column first appeared in print October 16, 1955, in the Chicago Sun-Times.

One daughter, Margo Howard (with husband Jules Lederer).

Former mother-in-law of Ken Howard.

Grandmother of Adam Coleman Howard.

Psychology Today once gave her credit for likely having more influence on the way people work out their problems than any other person of her era.

She became the first journalist to win the Albert Lasker Public Service Award for her efforts in persuading Congress to approve millions of dollars for cancer research. (Ironically, she would later die of cancer herself).

Married Jules Lederer, founder of the Budget Rent-a-Car, and her sister Pauline married Morton Phillips in an elaborate Orthodox Jewish double wedding in the twins' hometown of Sioux City.