In 1888 the directors of the Holyhood Cemetery Association purchased land in West Roxbury to develop St. Joseph Cemetery. At about 200 acres (81 ha), St. Joseph is one of the largest cemeteries in New England.
In 1950, the Directors of Holyhood 1950 opened a new section on VFW Parkway called St. James the Apostle. Extensive landscape improvements have been carried out over the last ten years, and the main cemetery is almost fully developed.
The cemetery contains two British Commonwealth war graves of a Canadian Army Private from each of the two World Wars.
Coordinates: 42°17′35″N 71°10′23″W / 42.293°N 71.173°W