Mrs. Mary Jane Smith Von der Ahe was honored by the Social Service Auxiliary with its Spiritus Award at the fifth annual Spiritus Award Ball held April 17 at the California Club in Los Angeles.

The Spiritus Award is presented to individuals whose faith, vision and distinct sense of social justice mirror that of the Sisters of Social Service.

Mrs. Von der Ahe --- whose late husband Wilfred and brother-in-law Ted founded Von's Grocery Store --- has helped to build the infrastructure of many charitable and spiritual enterprises in the Catholic Church of Los Angeles, including the League for Crippled Children, Briarcliff Manor Needlework Association and Providence-St. Joseph's Hospital Guild.

A Social Service Auxiliary member since 1960, she has long been a supporter of St. Charles Borromeo Church (North Hollywood), Loyola Marymount University and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. She is a Dame of the Order of Malta. The Social Service Auxiliary was founded in 1930 to support the work of the Sisters of Social Service.