Preneed Cemetery Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (Cemetery [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cemetery [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits to trust	$ 98,121	$ 96,864	$ 92,687
Withdrawals	109,382	100,474	104,580
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	595,683	638,368	625,248
Sales of available-for-sale securities	525,534	592,813	593,133
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	67,167	43,413	44,972
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (46,889)	$ (51,771)	$ (75,254)

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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+ 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

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-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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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+ Details