Born in Manton, Ky., on Nov. 1, 1907, Ada was the daughter of Joseph and Alice Hughes Newton and was one of eight children. Her formal education began in two Marion County schools, Gandertown and Nalton. The family moved to Flaherty, Ky., and the children enrolled at St. Martin School in Flaherty. Ada attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy for one year in 1923, but was needed at home and did not return to the Academy. In 1926, she came back to Mount Saint Joseph to enter the novitiate. After a six-month postulancy, Ada received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Joseph Volk on March 19, 1927.
Sister Joseph Volk remained at Mount Saint Joseph for nearly 20 years and had charge of the dairy where she made blocks of yellow cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese and butter (an artist creating beautifully designed molds). Beginning in 1946, Sister Joseph Volk was assigned to several missions as housekeeper: Howardstown, Shively, Louisville (St. Angela Home), Princeton, Flaherty, and New Haven, Ky., along with Affton, Mo. (Seven Holy Founders). In 1967, Sister Joseph Volk returned to Mount Saint Joseph as dorm mother in the Academy for several years. She retired from this assignment and found great joy in gardening, and picking berries and fruit in season.
As her health declined, Sister Joseph Volk finally gave up the outdoor activities and resided as a patient in the infirmary. In 1989, she became critically ill and she spent a short time at Mercy Hospital in Owensboro. Her last wish was to die at the Mount. She requested that all life-support be removed so she could come home. Death came to her on October 3, 1989. Her funeral Mass was celebrated two days later by Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain, and Msgr. Bernard Powers. Sister Joseph Volk’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Agnes Leo. Her other Ursuline sister, Sister Josepha, preceded her in death.