Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	$ 2,427,469	$ 2,411,337
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(3,113)	(3,263)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	2,424,356	2,408,074
Care trusts’ corpus	1,015,300	986,872
Total other income, net	(772)	3,009	1,316
Operating Segments [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	162,714	91,973	84,975
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(104,361)	(108,164)	(152,884)
Impairment charges	(54,151)	(21,655)	(76,788)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	84,652	75,391	84,403
Trust expenses and income taxes	(20,656)	(16,500)	(11,156)
Net trust investment income	68,198	21,045	(71,450)
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(68,198)	(21,045)	71,450
Other income, net	(772)	3,009	1,316
Total other income, net	(772)	3,009	1,316
Funeral [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,271,446	1,216,542
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,261)	(975)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,270,185	1,215,567
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)
Impairment charges	(24,705)	(8,135)	(22,476)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	22,283	18,571	21,694
Trust expenses and income taxes	(7,303)	(4,920)	(4,127)
Net trust investment income	10,385	(4,278)	(33,312)
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(10,385)	4,278	33,312
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Cemetery [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,156,023	1,194,795
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,852)	(2,288)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,154,171	1,192,507
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)
Impairment charges	(28,705)	(5,749)	(41,245)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	26,902	22,464	25,273
Trust expenses and income taxes	(10,579)	(9,708)	(3,789)
Net trust investment income	7,896	(1,351)	(50,043)
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(7,896)	1,351	50,043
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,206)	(147)
Care trusts' corpus, excluding accrued expenses	1,016,506	987,019
Care trusts’ corpus	1,015,300	986,872
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	34,275	11,753	11,288
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(16,310)	(9,792)	(20,512)
Impairment charges	(741)	(7,771)	(13,067)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	35,467	34,356	37,436
Trust expenses and income taxes	(2,774)	(1,872)	(3,240)
Net trust investment income	49,917	26,674	11,905
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(49,917)	(26,674)	(11,905)
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0	0
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0	0
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	0	0	0
Trust expenses and income taxes	0	0	0
Net trust investment income	0	0	0
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	0	0	0
Other income, net	(772)	3,009	1,316
Total other income, net	$ (772)	$ 3,009	$ 1,316