Chester Oakley (1893-1968) was St. Bonaventure's architect for many years.  He was a specialist in ecclesiastical and institutional architecture, which stemmed from his great interest in the Lombardic, or Early Christian Byzantine, Style of architecture from northern Italy in the 12th century. The style is of rough handmade brick, and Oakley used both unglazed and polychrome terra cotta for both ornamental and structural features.  He included roof tiles in his design, also characteristic of this style.  From 1920-1949, Father Thomas Plassman, OFM, President of St. Bonaventure, commissioned Oakley and his first partner Albert J. Shallmo to build the Stations of the Cross  as well as St. Joseph's Shrine, Devereux Hall, Hickey Dining Hall, the De la Roche Renovation, and Friedsam Library.  Father Thomas felt that a building should be more than brick and mortar; it should possess educational and cultural value through its architecture and symbolism.  Thus,  the reason Oakley was perfect for the job.  The fourteen Stations of the Cross are made of glass mosaic.  Two sets of these mosaic stations were imported from Europe. The Stations of the Cross are spread across the cemetery's landscape. The bricks used for the foundations and framing of the mosaics appear to be the same as those used in Devereux Hall which have irregular color and shape.

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