Whispers of history echo through Saint Joseph Cemetery. Here lies a sprawling testament to lives lived and legacies forged. Established in 1888, Saint Joseph Cemetery stretches across 200 acres. It is one of New England’s largest cemeteries.
Imagine this: the Directors of the Holyhood Cemetery Association sought to expand. They purchased this land in West Roxbury to create Saint Joseph Cemetery. Over the years, extensive landscape improvements have shaped its appearance.
Saint Joseph Cemetery holds stories within its grounds. Whitey Bulger rests here. He was a notorious organized crime boss. Also interred here are notable figures like Jeremiah E. Burke. He was superintendent of Boston Public Schools. John F. Collins, former Mayor of Boston, also lies here. His wife, Mary Collins, rests by his side.
Paul A. Dever, a former Governor of Massachusetts, found his final resting place here. John Joseph Douglass, a U.S. Representative, is also interred here. Arthur Fiedler, the famed conductor of the Boston Pops, rests here. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald, grandfather of President John F. Kennedy, is also buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery.
Louise Day Hicks, a U.S. Representative and Boston City Council President, is buried here. John Patrick Higgins, another U.S. Representative, rests in Saint Joseph Cemetery. John Bernard Hynes, a former Mayor of Boston, is interred within these grounds. Gregory Eric “Greg” Kelley, an American figure skater, also lies here.
John Joseph “Jack” Kirrane Jr., an American ice hockey player, is buried here. John William McCormack, a Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, rests here. William Sarsfield McNary, a U.S. Representative, also found his final resting place here. Joseph Francis O’Connell, another U.S. Representative, is interred in Saint Joseph Cemetery.
H. James Shea Jr., a Massachusetts State Representative and anti-war activist, rests here. William Joseph Stewart, a sports official, is buried in Saint Joseph Cemetery. William Sweeney, a Major League Baseball infielder, lies here. Kevin Hagan White, a former Mayor of Boston, is also buried here.
In 1950, a new section named St. James the Apostle opened. It is located on VFW Parkway. Saint Joseph Cemetery also holds British Commonwealth war graves. These graves belong to Canadian Army privates from both World Wars.
Saint Joseph Cemetery is referred to as BOS.820 in the “MACRIS survey of Massachusetts cemeteries.” The cemetery stands as a place of remembrance. It is a final resting place for many. It reflects the rich tapestry of Boston’s history. Take a moment to reflect on the lives and legacies within Saint Joseph Cemetery.