Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (Funeral [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Funeral [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits to trust	$ 72,750	$ 80,027	$ 85,901
Withdrawals	109,013	103,418	104,437
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	527,681	467,221	372,058
Sales of available-for-sale securities	610,917	479,128	398,984
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	61,272	36,807	28,715
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (41,162)	$ (46,601)	$ (57,118)

The cash outflow to acquire debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which would be classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity.

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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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+ Details

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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+ Details