10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

R	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

or

o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the transition period from  to

Commission file number 1-6402-1

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas		74-1488375
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I. R. S. employer identification number)
1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas		77019
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)
	713-522-5141
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
	None
(Former name, former address, or former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES þ NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES þ NO o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o	Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller reporting company o
		(Do not check if smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO þ

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of April 24, 2012 was 217,098,386(net of treasury shares).

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

INDEX

	Page
Glossary	3
Part I. Financial Information	4
Item 1. Financial Statements	4
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations — Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011	4
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income — Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011	5
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet — March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011	6
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows — Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011	7
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity — Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011	8
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	9
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	32
The Company	32
Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources	32
Results of Operations — Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011	38
Critical Accounting Policies	41
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements	41
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	42
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	42
Part II. Other Information	42
Item 1. Legal Proceedings	42
Item 1A. Risk Factors	43
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	43
Item 6. Exhibits	43
Signature	44

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GLOSSARY

The following terms are common to the deathcare industry, are used throughout this report, and have the following meanings:

Atneed — Funeral and cemetery arrangements after a death has occurred.

Burial Vaults — A reinforced container intended to inhibit the subsidence of the earth and house the casket after it is placed in the ground.

Cemetery Perpetual Care or Endowment Care Fund — A trust fund established for the purpose of maintaining cemetery grounds and property into perpetuity.

Cremation — The reduction of human remains to bone fragments by intense heat.

General Agency (GA) Revenues — Commissions we receive from third-party life insurance companies for life insurance policies or annuities sold to preneed customers for the purpose of funding preneed funeral arrangements. The commission rate paid is determined based on the product type sold, the length of payment terms, and the age of the insured/annuitant.

Interment — The burial or final placement of human remains in the ground.

Lawn Crypt — An underground outer burial receptacle constructed of concrete and reinforced steel, which is usually pre-installed in predetermined designated areas.

Marker — A method of identifying a deceased person in a particular burial space, crypt, or niche. Permanent burial markers are usually made of bronze, granite, or stone.

Maturity — When the underlying contracted service is performed or merchandise is delivered, typically at death. This is the point at which preneed contracts are converted to atneed contracts (note — delivery of certain merchandise and services can occur prior to death).

Mausoleum — An above ground structure that is designed to house caskets and cremation urns.

Preneed — Purchase of products and services prior to a death occurring.

Preneed Backlog — Future revenues from unfulfilled preneed funeral and cemetery contractual arrangements.

Production — Sales of preneed funeral and preneed or atneed cemetery contracts.

As used herein, “SCI”, “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to Service Corporation International and companies owned directly or indirectly by Service Corporation International, unless the context requires otherwise.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Revenues	$	602,506		$	579,699
Costs and expenses	(474,939		)	(453,253		)
Gross profits	127,567			126,446
General and administrative expenses	(25,959		)	(28,833		)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(490		)	(420		)
Operating income	101,118			97,193
Interest expense	(33,588		)	(33,559		)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	—			(314		)
Other income, net	3,905			674
Income before income taxes	71,435			63,994
Provision for income taxes	(23,120		)	(24,065		)
Net income	48,315			39,929
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(290		)	(1,165		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	48,025		$	38,764
Basic earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.22		$	0.16
Basic weighted average number of shares	220,132			239,772
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	0.22		$	0.16
Diluted weighted average number of shares	223,212			242,052
Dividends declared per share	$	0.05		$	0.05

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

4

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Net income	$	48,315		$	39,929
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	5,745			11,508
Total comprehensive income	54,060			51,437
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(275		)	(1,171		)
Total comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$	53,785		$	50,266

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

5

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(UNAUDITED)

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands, except share amounts)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	113,831		$	128,569
Receivables, net	96,376			103,892
Deferred tax assets	38,073			44,316
Inventories, net	25,438			25,513
Other	24,400			25,803
Total current assets	298,118			328,093
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	1,516,968			1,478,865
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	1,712,976			1,595,940
Cemetery property, at cost	1,496,439			1,497,703
Property and equipment, net	1,619,157			1,618,361
Goodwill	1,358,182			1,361,493
Deferred charges and other assets	423,504			430,851
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	1,050,081			1,016,506
Total assets	$	9,475,425		$	9,327,812
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	347,823		$	358,904
Current maturities of long-term debt	28,415			23,554
Income taxes	13,544			3,150
Total current liabilities	389,782			385,608
Long-term debt	1,858,984			1,861,116
Deferred preneed funeral revenues	566,449			575,546
Deferred preneed cemetery revenues	857,064			833,303
Deferred tax liability	414,810			405,615
Other liabilities	396,739			414,773
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	2,558,446			2,424,356
Care trusts’ corpus	1,048,056			1,015,300
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Equity:
Common stock, $1 per share par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 225,571,921 and 224,665,395 shares issued, respectively, and 217,097,274 and 222,955,853 shares outstanding, respectively	217,097			222,956
Capital in excess of par value	1,378,589			1,430,330
Accumulated deficit	(342,579		)	(367,044		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	111,612			105,852
Total common stockholders’ equity	1,364,719			1,392,094
Noncontrolling interests	20,376			20,101
Total equity	1,385,095			1,412,195
Total liabilities and equity	$	9,475,425		$	9,327,812

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

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SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	48,315		$	39,929
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	—			314
Depreciation and amortization	29,541			29,331
Amortization of intangible assets	6,149			6,354
Amortization of cemetery property	9,569			9,500
Amortization of loan costs	1,194			1,184
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,842			1,933
Provision for deferred income taxes	18,479			19,379
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	490			420
Share-based compensation	2,574			2,253
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Decrease in receivables	4,771			13,494
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(5,352		)	1,386
Decrease in payables and other liabilities	(7,888		)	(1,454		)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	15,766			15,761
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral revenue	(7,735		)	(19,398		)
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	(10,069		)	(8,942		)
Effect of cemetery production and deliveries:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	(26,238		)	(9,456		)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	15,948			11,750
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	642			(5,643		)
Other	(3,214		)	(109		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	95,784			107,986
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(23,378		)	(25,138		)
Acquisitions	(804		)	(10,513		)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment, net	264			4,697
Other	1,176			3,567
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,742		)	(27,387		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	907			—
Payments of debt	(497		)	(710		)
Early extinguishment of debt	—			(5,155		)
Principal payments on capital leases	(6,084		)	(5,639		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	2,323			3,182
Purchase of Company common stock	(75,106		)	(30,245		)
Payments of dividends	(11,104		)	(9,605		)
Bank overdrafts and other	433			4,794
Net cash used in financing activities	(89,128		)	(43,378		)
Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents	1,348			2,240
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(14,738		)	39,461
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	128,569			170,846
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	113,831		$	210,307

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

7

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

(In thousands)

	Common Stock		Treasury Stock			Capital in Excess of Par Value			Accumulated Deficit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income		Noncontrolling Interests		Total
Balance at December 31, 2010	$	242,020	$	(985	)	$	1,603,112		$	(477,459	)	$	112,768	$	492	$	1,479,948
Comprehensive income	—		—			—			38,764			11,502		1,171		51,437
Dividends declared on common stock ($.05 per share)	—		—			(11,930		)	—			—		—		(11,930		)
Employee share-based compensation earned	—		—			2,253			—			—		—		2,253
Stock option exercises	484		—			2,698			—			—		—		3,182
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	539		—			(539		)	—			—		—		—
Purchase of Company common stock	—		(3,204		)	(27,041		)	—			—		—		(30,245		)
Other	11		—			53			—			—		—		64
Balance at March 31, 2011	$	243,054	$	(4,189	)	$	1,568,606		$	(438,695	)	$	124,270	$	1,663	$	1,494,709
Balance at December 31, 2011	224,666		(1,710		)	1,430,330			(367,044		)	105,852		20,101		1,412,195
Comprehensive income	—		—			—			48,025			5,760		275		54,060
Dividends declared on common stock ($.05 per share)	—		—			(10,960		)	—			—		—		(10,960		)
Employee share-based compensation earned	—		—			2,574			—			—		—		2,574
Stock option exercises	422		—			1,901			—			—		—		2,323
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	483		—			(483		)	—			—		—		—
Purchase of Company common stock	—		(6,765		)	(44,780		)	(23,560		)	—		—		(75,105		)
Other	1		—			7			—			—		—		8
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	225,572	$	(8,475	)	$	1,378,589		$	(342,579	)	$	111,612	$	20,376	$	1,385,095

(See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements)

8

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

1. Nature of Operations

We are North America’s largest provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral service locations and cemeteries primarily operating in the United States and Canada. Our operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses.

Funeral service locations provide all professional services relating to funerals and cremations, including the use of funeral facilities and motor vehicles and preparation and embalming services. Funeral-related merchandise, including caskets, casket memorialization products, burial vaults, cremation receptacles, cremation memorial products, flowers, and other ancillary products and services, is sold at funeral service locations. Cemeteries provide cemetery property interment rights, including mausoleum spaces, lots, and lawn crypts, and sell cemetery-related merchandise and services, including stone and bronze memorials, markers, merchandise installations, and burial openings and closings. We also sell preneed funeral and cemetery products and services whereby a customer contractually agrees to the terms of certain products and services to be provided in the future.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International (SCI) and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Our financial statements also include the accounts of the funeral merchandise and service trusts, cemetery merchandise and service trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and any other adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair statement of our results for these periods. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. The accompanying year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year period.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. These estimates and assumptions may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receivables

We sell preneed funeral and cemetery contracts whereby the customer enters into arrangements for future merchandise and services prior to the time of need. As these contracts are prior to the delivery of the related goods and services, the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by a comparable deferred revenue amount. These receivables have an interest component for which interest income is recorded when the interest amount is considered collectible and realizable, which typically coincides with cash payment. We do not accrue interest on financing receivables that are not paid in accordance with the contractual payment date given the nature of our goods and services, the nature of our contracts with customers, and the timing of the delivery of our services. We do not consider receivables to be past due until the service or goods are required to be delivered at which time the preneed receivable is paid or reclassified as a trade receivable with payment terms of less than 30 days. As the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by comparable deferred revenue amounts, we have no risk of loss related to these receivables.

If a preneed contract is cancelled prior to delivery, state or provincial law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, if any, including the amount of the attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, we receive the amount of principal

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deposited to the trust and previously undistributed net investment earnings and, where required, issue a refund to the customer. We retain excess funds, if any, and recognize the attributed investment earnings (net of any investment earnings payable to the customer) as revenue in the consolidated statement of operations. In certain jurisdictions, we may be obligated to fund any shortfall if the amount deposited by the customers exceed the funds in trust. Based on our historical experience, we have provided an allowance for cancellation of these receivables, which is recorded as a reduction in receivables with a corresponding offset to deferred revenue.

Fair Value Measurements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure (FVM&D) Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to expand disclosures about items marked to fair value that are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy to include qualitative explanations of the valuation methodology used and sensitivity analysis of the inputs into the valuation. The amendment also requires that items that are not measured at fair value but for which the fair value is disclosed also disclose the level in the fair value hierarchy in which those items were categorized. We adopted the amended guidance in the first quarter of 2012 and the appropriate disclosures are contained in Notes 4, 5, and 6.

Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB amended the Comprehensive Income Topic of the ASC to require the disclosure of the components of other comprehensive income, which we previously disclosed elsewhere in our filings, be shown as either part of one statement of comprehensive income or as a separate statement of comprehensive income immediately following the income statement. We adopted the amended guidance in the first quarter of 2012 and a separate Statement of Comprehensive Income is included herein.

3. Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Goodwill Testing

In September 2011, the FASB amended the Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topic of the ASC that allows us to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If, after assessing the relevant information, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value is more than the carrying amount, no additional analysis is necessary. If we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount, then we are required to proceed to the quantitative approach. The amended guidance is effective for us in our annual test in the fourth quarter of 2012, and adoption will have no impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

4. Preneed Funeral Activities

Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, related to unperformed, price-guaranteed preneed funeral contracts. Our funeral merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. Our cemetery trust investments detailed in Notes 5 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed funeral revenues into Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts after the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed funeral contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed funeral merchandise and service trusts:

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	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	22,178		$	17,316
Withdrawals	30,912			23,758
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	188,059			83,757
Sales of available-for-sale securities	184,902			109,707
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	26,011			12,877
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(9,748		)	(4,034		)

The components of Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	954,986		$	892,685
Cash and cash equivalents	92,970			101,111
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	269,149			277,650
Trust investments	1,317,105			1,271,446
Receivables from customers	241,685			246,601
Unearned finance charge	(5,428		)	(5,425		)
	1,553,362			1,512,622
Allowance for cancellation	(36,394		)	(33,757		)
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$	1,516,968		$	1,478,865

The cost and market values associated with our funeral merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments (including debt as well as the estimated fair value related to the contract holder’s equity in majority-owned real estate investments).

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	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	106,997	$	4,731	$	(2,130	)	$	109,598
Canadian government	113,298		367		(73		)	113,592
Corporate	51,266		2,453		(577		)	53,142
Residential mortgage-backed	3,294		65		(4		)	3,355
Asset-backed	127		5		—			132
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,885		81		(111		)	1,855
Common stock:
United States	219,926		50,121		(8,221		)	261,826
Canada	23,261		2,851		(1,352		)	24,760
Other international	17,232		1,695		(538		)	18,389
Mutual funds:
Equity	146,494		7,339		(8,898		)	144,935
Fixed income	215,124		4,849		(13,174		)	206,799
Private equity	36,605		214		(21,135		)	15,684
Other	507		412		—			919
Trust investments	$	936,016	$	75,183	$	(56,213	)	$	954,986

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	77,299	$	4,565	$	(373	)	$	81,491
Canadian government	114,586		838		(109		)	115,315
Corporate	49,210		1,849		(770		)	50,289
Residential mortgage-backed	3,292		71		(34		)	3,329
Asset-backed	126		6		—			132
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,041		50		(153		)	1,938
Common stock:
United States	258,738		40,992		(22,715		)	277,015
Canada	23,986		2,511		(1,771		)	24,726
Other international	18,954		1,045		(1,296		)	18,703
Mutual funds:
Equity	134,383		2,384		(18,982		)	117,785
Fixed income	193,134		5,044		(13,114		)	185,064
Private equity	35,017		218		(19,249		)	15,986
Other	484		428		—			912
Trust investments	$	911,250	$	60,001	$	(78,566	)	$	892,685

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices

12

of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

As of March 31, 2012, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $14.5 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.

Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock equity securities. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	656,709	$	281,674	$	16,603	$	954,986
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	623,293	$	252,494	$	16,898	$	892,685

The change in our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	16,898		$	21,359
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	(1,300		)	3,870
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(10		)	(7		)
Purchases	—			—
Sales	(9		)	(194		)
Contributions	1,278			486
Distributions and other	(254		)	(144		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	16,603		$	25,370

(1) All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

(2) All losses recognized in Other income, net for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual

13

funds, at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	134,939
Due in one to five years	60,065
Due in five to ten years	50,180
Thereafter	34,635
	$	279,819

Earnings from all our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in funeral revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues. Recognized earnings (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments were $9.9 million and $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded a $0.3 million and a $3.1 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments, respectively.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our funeral merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	36,336	$	(1,930	)	$	7,853	$	(200	)	$	44,189	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	7,069		(73		)	—		—			7,069		(73		)
Corporate	13,340		(465		)	609		(112		)	13,949		(577		)
Residential mortgage-backed	945		(4		)	—		—			945		(4		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	778		(102		)	90		(9		)	868		(111		)
Common stock:
United States	42,370		(4,865		)	10,229		(3,356		)	52,599		(8,221		)
Canada	4,039		(1,024		)	973		(328		)	5,012		(1,352		)
Other international	4,702		(177		)	1,837		(361		)	6,539		(538		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	33,514		(1,774		)	22,122		(7,124		)	55,636		(8,898		)
Fixed income	108,720		(5,684		)	6,836		(7,490		)	115,556		(13,174		)
Private equity	2,078		(3,705		)	13,244		(17,430		)	15,322		(21,135		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	253,891	$	(19,803	)	$	63,793	$	(36,410	)	$	317,684	$	(56,213	)

14

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	6,977	$	(90	)	$	8,709	$	(283	)	$	15,686	$	(373	)
Canadian government	9,597		(109		)	—		—			9,597		(109		)
Corporate	17,328		(692		)	662		(78		)	17,990		(770		)
Residential mortgage-backed	600		(4		)	295		(30		)	895		(34		)
Asset-backed	—		—			—		—			—		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,244		(153		)	—		—			1,244		(153		)
Common stock:
United States	84,450		(18,120		)	14,924		(4,595		)	99,374		(22,715		)
Canada	8,448		(1,491		)	513		(280		)	8,961		(1,771		)
Other international	7,263		(615		)	2,403		(681		)	9,666		(1,296		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	76,559		(9,173		)	26,053		(9,809		)	102,612		(18,982		)
Fixed income	68,378		(5,500		)	9,314		(7,614		)	77,692		(13,114		)
Private equity	1,977		(3,499		)	13,502		(15,750		)	15,479		(19,249		)
Other	—		—			—		—			—		—
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	282,821	$	(39,446	)	$	76,375	$	(39,120	)	$	359,196	$	(78,566	)

5. Preneed Cemetery Activities

Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, for contracts sold in advance of when the property interment rights, merchandise, or services are needed. Our cemetery merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed cemetery revenues into Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts when the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed cemetery contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	25,195		$	24,092
Withdrawals	24,733			29,944
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	270,083			133,565
Sales of available-for-sale securities	255,417			133,555
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	39,272			16,847
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(13,770		)	(5,621		)

The components of Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

15

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	1,153,699		$	1,051,464
Cash and cash equivalents	92,072			104,554
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	10			5
Trust investments	1,245,781			1,156,023
Receivables from customers	543,488			517,917
Unearned finance charges	(31,935		)	(33,766		)
	1,757,334			1,640,174
Allowance for cancellation	(44,358		)	(44,234		)
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments	$	1,712,976		$	1,595,940

The cost and market values associated with our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments.

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	95,800	$	6,829	$	(2,130	)	$	100,499
Canadian government	17,029		351		(8		)	17,372
Corporate	44,452		2,785		(572		)	46,665
Residential mortgage-backed	163		4		—			167
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	3,059		130		(204		)	2,985
Common stock:
United States	347,048		88,890		(10,942		)	424,996
Canada	17,819		3,451		(1,576		)	19,694
Other international	28,236		3,165		(669		)	30,732
Mutual funds:
Equity	236,441		10,592		(11,010		)	236,023
Fixed income	268,654		10,588		(20,054		)	259,188
Private equity	32,483		51		(17,599		)	14,935
Other	331		112		—			443
Trust investments	$	1,091,515	$	126,948	$	(64,764	)	$	1,153,699

16

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	51,022	$	6,438	$	(313	)	$	57,147
Canadian government	16,566		381		(24		)	16,923
Corporate	42,803		2,033		(961		)	43,875
Residential mortgage-backed	167		5		(2		)	170
Asset-backed	—		—		—			—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	3,365		86		(270		)	3,181
Common stock:
United States	408,075		71,138		(30,454		)	448,759
Canada	18,289		2,547		(1,780		)	19,056
Other international	30,501		1,843		(1,536		)	30,808
Mutual funds:
Equity	197,523		3,317		(24,911		)	175,929
Fixed income	248,529		11,670		(20,238		)	239,961
Private equity	30,783		53		(15,617		)	15,219
Other	306		130		—			436
Trust investments	$	1,047,929	$	99,641	$	(96,106	)	$	1,051,464

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

As of March 31, 2012, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $15.2 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.

Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:

17

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	970,633	$	167,688	$	15,378	$	1,153,699
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	914,513	$	121,296	$	15,655	$	1,051,464

The change in our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	15,655		$	6,251
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	(1,345		)	6,311
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(12		)	(8		)
Sales	—			—
Contributions	1,356			503
Distributions and other	(276		)	(2,393		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	15,378		$	10,664

(1) All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

(2) All losses recognized in Other income, net for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	4,793
Due in one to five years	61,108
Due in five to ten years	49,640
Thereafter	49,162
	$	164,703

Earnings from all our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues. Recognized earnings (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments were $7.5 million and $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded a $0.3 million and a $1.0 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments, respectively.

18

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	43,178	$	(1,932	)	$	2,287	$	(198	)	$	45,465	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	2,489		(8		)	—		—			2,489		(8		)
Corporate	13,559		(483		)	538		(89		)	14,097		(572		)
Residential mortgage-backed	29		—			—		—			29		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,382		(198		)	66		(6		)	1,448		(204		)
Common stock:
United States	59,820		(7,023		)	11,828		(3,919		)	71,648		(10,942		)
Canada	4,255		(987		)	420		(589		)	4,675		(1,576		)
Other international	5,230		(223		)	2,620		(446		)	7,850		(669		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	25,667		(1,593		)	35,401		(9,417		)	61,068		(11,010		)
Fixed income	83,092		(7,603		)	9,567		(12,451		)	92,659		(20,054		)
Private equity	474		(308		)	13,946		(17,291		)	14,420		(17,599		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	239,175	$	(20,358	)	$	76,673	$	(44,406	)	$	315,848	$	(64,764	)

19

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	1,736	$	(51	)	$	3,038	$	(262	)	$	4,774	$	(313	)
Canadian government	4,024		(24		)	—		—			4,024		(24		)
Corporate	15,044		(850		)	1,747		(111		)	16,791		(961		)
Residential mortgage-backed	2		(1		)	15		(1		)	17		(2		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,583		(270		)	—		—			1,583		(270		)
Common stock:
United States	123,849		(26,401		)	17,085		(4,053		)	140,934		(30,454		)
Canada	7,694		(1,260		)	366		(520		)	8,060		(1,780		)
Other international	8,654		(629		)	3,772		(907		)	12,426		(1,536		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	115,725		(11,222		)	36,398		(13,689		)	152,123		(24,911		)
Fixed income	48,950		(7,686		)	9,367		(12,552		)	58,317		(20,238		)
Private equity	466		(254		)	14,213		(15,363		)	14,679		(15,617		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	327,727	$	(48,648	)	$	86,001	$	(47,458	)	$	413,728	$	(96,106	)

6. Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts

We are required by state and provincial law to pay into cemetery perpetual care trusts a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights. Our cemetery perpetual care trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The merchandise and service trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 5 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. We consolidate our cemetery perpetual care trust investments with a corresponding amount recorded as Care trusts’ corpus. Cash flows from cemetery perpetual care trusts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our cemetery perpetual care trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	6,544		$	5,789
Withdrawals	8,252			8,387
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	70,127			203,086
Sales of available-for-sale securities	52,886			267,666
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	2,162			21,241
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(2,215		)	(10,661		)

The components of Cemetery perpetual care trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	999,259	$	952,573
Cash and cash equivalents	50,822		63,933
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,050,081	$	1,016,506

The cost and market values associated with our cemetery perpetual care trust investments recorded at fair market value at

20

March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities or cash held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments.

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	927	$	31	$	(1	)	$	957
Canadian government	29,612		634		(15		)	30,231
Corporate	21,406		544		(68		)	21,882
Residential mortgage-backed	1,654		49		(1		)	1,702
Asset-backed	98		6		—			104
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	5,440		65		(404		)	5,101
Common stock:
United States	151,786		21,538		(4,024		)	169,300
Canada	13,853		1,666		(1,595		)	13,924
Other international	18,489		1,099		(699		)	18,889
Mutual funds:
Equity	17,795		2,534		(141		)	20,188
Fixed income	664,339		37,041		(3,650		)	697,730
Private equity	25,340		371		(13,734		)	11,977
Other	8,133		1,083		(1,942		)	7,274
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	958,872	$	66,661	$	(26,274	)	$	999,259

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	981	$	39	$	—		$	1,020
Canadian government	29,015		686		(43		)	29,658
Corporate	21,197		528		(134		)	21,591
Residential mortgage-backed	1,662		53		(13		)	1,702
Asset-backed	83		2		(1		)	84
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	6,475		18		(1,146		)	5,347
Common stock:
United States	141,880		14,443		(9,113		)	147,210
Canada	13,374		1,483		(1,423		)	13,434
Other international	16,836		1,314		(1,421		)	16,729
Mutual funds:
Equity	21,801		1,598		(579		)	22,820
Fixed income	654,883		29,758		(9,402		)	675,239
Private equity	23,212		374		(12,737		)	10,849
Other	8,018		850		(1,978		)	6,890
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	939,417	$	51,146	$	(37,990	)	$	952,573

21

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments.Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

As of March 31, 2012, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $7.0 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.

Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	920,031	$	59,977	$	19,251	$	999,259
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	875,432	$	59,402	$	17,739	$	952,573

The change in our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	17,739		$	17,089
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	839			6,111
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(57		)	(27		)
Sales	(26		)	(44		)
Contributions	1,390			1
Distributions and other	(634		)	(2,871		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	19,251		$	20,259

(1) All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

(2) All gains (losses) recognized in Other income, net for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

22

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	5,684
Due in one to five years	23,190
Due in five to ten years	24,729
Thereafter	1,273
	$	54,876

Distributable earnings from these cemetery perpetual care trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues to the extent we incur qualifying cemetery maintenance costs. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. Recognized earnings related to these trust investments were $9.0 million and $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Cemetery perpetual care trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded a $0.0 million and a $0.3 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments, respectively.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings, and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses, are shown in the following tables.

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	342	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—		$	342	$	(1	)
Canadian government	4,758		(15		)	—		—			4,758		(15		)
Corporate	5,960		(57		)	68		(11		)	6,028		(68		)
Residential mortgage-backed	222		(1		)	—		—			222		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,937		(260		)	434		(144		)	3,371		(404		)
Common stock:
United States	22,965		(1,768		)	8,142		(2,256		)	31,107		(4,024		)
Canada	4,568		(1,001		)	643		(594		)	5,211		(1,595		)
Other international	9,843		(682		)	262		(17		)	10,105		(699		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	827		(28		)	2,267		(113		)	3,094		(141		)
Fixed income	84,277		(1,628		)	45,962		(2,022		)	130,239		(3,650		)
Private equity	281		(349		)	11,293		(13,385		)	11,574		(13,734		)
Other	144		(179		)	5,807		(1,763		)	5,951		(1,942		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	137,124	$	(5,969	)	$	74,878	$	(20,305	)	$	212,002	$	(26,274	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Canadian government	7,057		(43		)	—		—			7,057		(43		)
Corporate	3,854		(73		)	1,456		(61		)	5,310		(134		)
Residential mortgage-backed	58		(1		)	127		(12		)	185		(13		)
Asset-backed	51		(1		)	—		—			51		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	4,393		(1,116		)	21		(30		)	4,414		(1,146		)
Common stock:
United States	39,716		(5,459		)	9,055		(3,654		)	48,771		(9,113		)
Canada	4,402		(772		)	565		(651		)	4,967		(1,423		)
Other international	5,738		(1,226		)	104		(195		)	5,842		(1,421		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	9,852		(564		)	2,717		(15		)	12,569		(579		)
Fixed income	144,350		(5,498		)	51,301		(3,904		)	195,651		(9,402		)
Private equity	254		(324		)	10,189		(12,413		)	10,443		(12,737		)
Other	140		(181		)	5,660		(1,797		)	5,800		(1,978		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	219,865	$	(15,258	)	$	81,195	$	(22,732	)	$	301,060	$	(37,990	)

7. Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts’ Corpus

Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust

We consolidate the merchandise and service trusts associated with our preneed funeral and cemetery activities in accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. Although the guidance requires the consolidation of the merchandise and service trusts, it does not change the legal relationships among the trusts, us, or our customers. The customers are the legal beneficiaries of these merchandise and service trusts, and therefore their interests in these trusts represent a liability to us.

The components of Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below.

	March 31, 2012									December 31, 2011
	Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total			Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total
	(In thousands)									(In thousands)
Trust investments	$	1,317,105		$	1,245,781		$	2,562,886		$	1,271,446		$	1,156,023		$	2,427,469
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,936		)	(2,504		)	(4,440		)	(1,261		)	(1,852		)	(3,113		)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	$	1,315,169		$	1,243,277		$	2,558,446		$	1,270,185		$	1,154,171		$	2,424,356

Care Trusts’ Corpus

The Care trusts’ corpus reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet represents the cemetery perpetual care trusts, including the related accrued expenses.

The components of Care trusts’ corpus in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below.

23

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,050,081		$	1,016,506
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(2,025		)	(1,206		)
Care trusts’ corpus	$	1,048,056		$	1,015,300

Other Income, Net

The components of Other income, net in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are detailed below. See Notes 4, 5, and 6 for further discussion of the amounts related to the funeral, cemetery, and cemetery perpetual care trusts.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	26,011		$	39,272		$	2,162		$	—	$	67,445
Realized losses	(9,748		)	(13,770		)	(2,215		)	—		(25,733		)
Impairment charges	(344		)	(305		)	(1		)	—		(650		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	2,200			2,276			5,723			—		10,199
Trust expenses and income taxes	(2,569		)	(3,185		)	(385		)	—		(6,139		)
Net trust investment income	15,550			24,288			5,284			—		45,122
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(15,550		)	(24,288		)	(5,284		)	—		(45,122		)
Other income, net	—						—			3,905		3,905
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	3,905	$	3,905

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	12,877		$	16,847		$	21,241		$	—	$	50,965
Realized losses	(4,034		)	(5,621		)	(10,661		)	—		(20,316		)
Impairment charges	(3,146		)	(978		)	(297		)	—		(4,421		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	3,422			4,909			8,180			—		16,511
Trust expenses and income taxes	(1,383		)	(1,755		)	(1,596		)	—		(4,734		)
Net trust investment income	7,736			13,402			16,867			—		38,005
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(7,736		)	(13,402		)	(16,867		)	—		(38,005		)
Other income, net	—			—			—			674		674
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	674	$	674

8. Income Taxes

Income tax expense during interim periods is based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate plus any discrete items which are recorded in the period in which they occur. Discrete items include, among others, such events as changes in estimates due to the finalization of tax returns, tax audit settlements, expiration of statute of limitations, and increases or decreases in valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. Our effective tax rate was 32.4% and 37.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The effective tax rate of 32.4% for the first quarter of 2012 was below the 35% federal statutory tax rate due to the benefits associated with the settlement of a tax audit discussed below and foreign jurisdictions taxed at different rates, which is partially offset by state tax expense.

24

Internal Revenue Service Settlement

Our affiliate SCI Funeral and Cemetery Purchasing Cooperative ("COOP"), is a corporation taxed under subchapter T of the United States Internal Revenue code, the operation of which has resulted in the deferral of tax payments. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in connection with its audits of the COOP's 2003 - 2005 federal income tax returns, proposed adjustments that would accelerate amounts that the Company had previously deferred and would result in the payment of interest on those deferred amounts. We reached a settlement with the IRS on March 28, 2012 and as a result the Company will make a one-time payment of approximately $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2012. Our tax expense for the first quarter was reduced by approximately $3.3 million for adjustments to our "unrecognized tax benefits" – that is, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements, and other tax matters.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

We had previously recorded an unrecognized tax benefit and accrued interest for the exposure pertaining to the IRS audit settlement described above. As of March 31, 2012, the gross amount of our unrecognized tax benefits was $146.7 million and the gross amount of our accrued interest was $39.2 million. During the first quarter, our unrecognized tax benefit and gross accrued interest decreased by $9.6 million and $2.6 million respectively, due primarily to the IRS audit settlement.

A number of years may elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have unrecognized tax benefits, are audited and finally settled. While we have effectively settled our 2003 - 2005 tax years with respect to our affiliate the COOP, SCI and Subsidiaries' tax years 2003 - 2005 remain under review at the IRS Appeals level and SCI and Subsidiaries' tax years 1999 - 2002 remain under review at the IRS Examination level. Various state and foreign jurisdictions are auditing years through 2009. The outcome of each of these audits cannot be predicted at this time. It is reasonably possible that the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits could significantly increase or decrease over the next twelve months either because we prevail on positions or because the tax authorities prevail. Due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of completion of audits and possible outcomes, a current estimate of the range of increases or decreases that may occur within the next twelve months cannot be made.

9. Debt

Debt as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
7.875% Debentures due February 2013	$	4,757		$	4,757
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014	180,692			180,692
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015	136,465			136,465
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2016	197,377			197,377
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	295,000			295,000
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	250,000			250,000
7.0% Senior Notes due May 2019	250,000			250,000
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	150,000			150,000
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	200,000			200,000
Bank credit facility due March 2016	65,000			65,000
Obligations under capital leases	156,517			124,330
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	6,334			35,937
Unamortized pricing discounts and other	(4,743		)	(4,888		)
Total debt	1,887,399			1,884,670
Less current maturities	(28,415		)	(23,554		)
Total long-term debt	$	1,858,984		$	1,861,116

Current maturities of debt at March 31, 2012 were primarily comprised of our capital leases. Our consolidated debt had a weighted average interest rate of 6.61% at March 31, 2012 and 6.69% at December 31, 2011. Approximately 89% of our total debt had a fixed interest rate at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

Bank Credit Facility

As of December 31, 2010, we had a $400 million bank credit facility due March 2016 with a syndicate of financial institutions, including a sublimit of $175 million for letters of credit. In the first quarter of 2011, we amended our bank credit facility to increase

25

the availability thereunder from $400 million to $500 million and extended the maturity to March 2016.

As of March 31, 2012, we have $65.0 million outstanding cash advances under our bank credit facility and have used it to support $32.7 million of letters of credit. The bank credit facility provides us with flexibility for working capital, if needed, and is guaranteed by a majority of our domestic subsidiaries. The subsidiary guaranty is a guaranty of payment of the outstanding amount of the total lending commitment, including letters of credit. The bank credit facility contains certain financial covenants, including a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum leverage ratio, and certain dividend and share repurchase restrictions. We pay a quarterly fee on the unused commitment, which was 0.35%. As of March 31, 2012, we have $402.3 million in borrowing capacity under the bank credit facility.

Debt Extinguishments and Reductions

During the three months endedMarch 31, 2012, we paid an aggregate of $6.1 million to retire capital lease obligations with no associated gain or loss recognized on early extinguishment of this debt.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid $5.2 million, to retire $0.2 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.875% Senior Notes due February 2013, and $4.7 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015. Certain of the above transactions resulted in the recognition of a loss of $0.3 million recorded in Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Capital Leases

During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we acquired $38.3 million and $8.8 million, respectively, of primarily transportation equipment capital leases.

10. Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value Estimates

The fair value estimates of the following financial instruments have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables approximate the fair values of those instruments due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair values of receivables on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts are impracticable to estimate because of the lack of a trading market and the diverse number of individual contracts with varying terms.

The fair value of our debt instruments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows:

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
7.875% Debentures due February 2013	$	4,757	$	4,971
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014	197,948		196,954
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015	149,429		150,083
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2016	214,647		216,375
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	331,138		323,025
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	288,750		276,875
7.0% Senior Notes due May 2019	271,250		262,500
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	173,532		167,550
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	203,250		195,750
Bank credit facility due March 2016	65,000		65,000
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	6,334		36,340
Total fair value of debt instruments	$	1,906,035	$	1,895,423

The fair values of our long-term, fixed rate loans were estimated using market prices for those loans, and therefore they are classified within Level 1 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC. The bank credit agreement and the mortgage and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy. The fair values of these instruments have been estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on our incremental borrowing rate for similar borrowing arrangements. A significant increase (decrease) in the inputs results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments.

11. Share-Based Compensation

26

Stock Benefit Plans

We utilize the Black-Scholes option valuation model for estimating the fair value of our stock options. This model uses a range of assumptions related to volatility, the risk-free interest rate, the expected life, and the dividend yield. The fair values of our stock options are calculated using the following weighted average assumptions for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

	Three Months Ended
Assumptions	March 31, 2012
Dividend yield	1.8	%
Expected volatility	40.8	%
Risk-free interest rate	0.8	%
Expected holding period (in years)	5.0

Stock Options

The following table sets forth stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

	Options		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	13,404,216		$	7.88
Granted	2,023,500		11.18
Exercised	(422,234	)	5.50
Outstanding at March 31, 2012	15,005,482		$	8.40
Exercisable at March 31, 2012	10,642,843		$	7.82

As of March 31, 2012, the unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options of $12.1 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

Restricted Shares

Restricted share activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was as follows:

	Restricted shares		Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested restricted shares at December 31, 2011	1,165,170		$	7.53
Granted	483,170		11.18
Vested	(520,161	)	6.05
Nonvested restricted shares at March 31, 2012	1,128,179		$	9.78

As of March 31, 2012, the unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted shares of $9.4 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

12. Equity

(All shares reported in whole numbers)

Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:

	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment		Unrealized Gains and Losses			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
			(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	105,852	$	—		$	105,852
Activity in 2012	5,760		—			5,760
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—		78,178			78,178
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	—		(78,178		)	(78,178		)
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	111,612	$	—		$	111,612

27

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rate. The U.S. dollar amount that arises from such translation, as well as exchange gains and losses on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature, are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment in Accumulated other comprehensive income.

Cash Dividends

On February 8, 2012, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $.05 per common share. At March 31, 2012, this dividend totaling $10.9 million was recorded in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and Capital in excess of par value in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. This dividend will be paid on April 30, 2012.

Share Repurchase Program

Subject to market conditions, normal trading restrictions, and limitations in our debt covenants, we may make purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions under our stock repurchase program. In February 2012, our Board of Directors approved an increase in our share repurchase program authorizing the investment of up to an additional $120 million to repurchase our common stock, bringing total authorization up to $200 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we repurchased 6,591,870 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $73.2 million, which is an average cost per share of $11.10. After these repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program was approximately $146.8 million at March 31, 2012.

Subsequent to March 31, 2012, we repurchased an additional 759,276 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $8.3 million, which is an average cost per share of $10.93. After these second quarter repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program is approximately $138.5 million.

13. Segment Reporting

Our operations are both product based and geographically based, and the reportable operating segments presented below include our funeral and cemetery operations. Our geographic areas include United States, Canada, and Germany. We conduct both funeral and cemetery operations in the United States and Canada and funeral operations in Germany.

Our reportable segment information is as follows:

	Funeral		Cemetery		Reportable Segments
	(In thousands)
Three Months ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2012	$	424,281	$	178,225	$	602,506
2011	$	408,435	$	171,264	$	579,699
Gross profits:
2012	$	100,024	$	27,543	$	127,567
2011	$	99,355	$	27,091	$	126,446

The following table reconciles gross profits from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Gross profits from reportable segments	$	127,567		$	126,446
General and administrative expenses	(25,959		)	(28,833		)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(490		)	(420		)
Operating income	101,118			97,193
Interest expense	(33,588		)	(33,559		)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	—			(314		)
Other income, net	3,905			674
Income before income taxes	$	71,435		$	63,994

Our geographic area information is as follows:

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	United States		Canada		Germany		Total
			(In thousands)
Three Months ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2012	$	547,176	$	53,541	$	1,789	$	602,506
2011	$	524,896	$	52,919	$	1,884	$	579,699

14. Supplementary Information

The detail of certain income statement accounts as presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations is as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Merchandise revenues:
Funeral	$	140,233	$	132,263
Cemetery	121,834		114,921
Total merchandise revenues	262,067		247,184
Services revenues:
Funeral	259,698		256,285
Cemetery	49,671		49,222
Total services revenues	309,369		305,507
Other revenues	31,070		27,008
Total revenues	$	602,506	$	579,699
Merchandise costs and expenses:
Funeral	$	72,227	$	70,015
Cemetery	55,686		53,565
Total cost of merchandise	127,913		123,580
Services costs and expenses:
Funeral	127,158		117,940
Cemetery	25,821		24,499
Total cost of services	152,979		142,439
Overhead and other expenses	194,047		187,234
Total costs and expenses	$	474,939	$	453,253

15. Commitments and Contingencies

Insurance Loss Reserves

We purchase comprehensive general liability, morticians’ and cemetery professional liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation insurance coverage structured with high deductibles. The high-deductible insurance program means we are primarily self-insured for claims and associated costs and losses covered by these policies. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we have self-insurance reserves of $53.1 million and $52.7 million, respectively.

Litigation

We are a party to various litigation matters, investigations, and proceedings. For each of our outstanding legal matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the lawsuits described herein; however, if we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated, we establish the necessary accruals. We hold certain insurance policies that may reduce cash outflows with respect to an adverse outcome of certain of these litigation matters. We accrue such insurance

29

recoveries when they become probable of being paid and can be reasonably estimated.

Burial Practices Claims. We are named as a defendant in various lawsuits alleging improper burial practices at certain of our cemetery locations. These lawsuits include but are not limited to the Garcia,Sands, Zinn and Baio lawsuits described in the following paragraphs.

Reyvis Garcia and Alicia Garcia v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., Osiris Holding of Florida, Inc., a Florida corporation, d/b/a Graceland Memorial Park South, f/k/a Paradise Memorial Gardens, Inc., was filed in December 2004, in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, Case No. 04-25646 CA 32. Plaintiffs are the son and sister of the decedent, Eloisa Garcia, who was buried at Graceland Memorial Park South in March 1986, when the cemetery was owned by Paradise Memorial Gardens, Inc. Initially, the suit sought damages on the individual claims of the plaintiffs relating to the burial of Eloisa Garcia. Plaintiffs claimed that due to poor recordkeeping, spacing issues and maps, and the fact that the family could not afford to purchase a marker for the grave, the burial location of the decedent could not be readily located. Subsequently, the decedent’s grave was located and verified. In July 2006, plaintiffs amended their complaint, seeking to certify a class of all persons buried at this cemetery whose burial sites cannot be located, claiming that this was due to poor recordkeeping, maps, and surveys at the cemetery. Plaintiffs subsequently filed a third amended class action complaint and added two additional named plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages, as well as equitable and injunctive relief. On May 4, 2011, the trial court certified a class and we are appealing that ruling. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

F. Charles Sands, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. Eden Memorial Park, et al.; Case No. BC421528; in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles — Central District. This case was filed in September 2009 against SCI and certain subsidiaries regarding our Eden Memorial Park cemetery in Mission Hills, California. The plaintiff seeks to certify a class of cemetery plot owners and their families. The plaintiff seeks compensatory, consequential and punitive damages as well as the appointment of a receiver to oversee cemetery operations. The plaintiff claims the cemetery damaged and desecrated burials in order to prepare adjoining graves for subsequent burials. In February 2012, the court held a hearing on the plaintiff's motion for class certification and, so far, no order has been issued relating to that hearing. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

David Zinn and Michael Graff, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 502012CA006536MB, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County of Florida. This case was filed by counsel for plaintiffs in the preceding Sands case on April 5, 2012 regarding our Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Funeral Chapel & Bailey Memorial Gardens located in North Lauderdale, Florida. The plaintiffs seek to certify a class of cemetery plot owners and their families. The plaintiffs allege the cemetery engaged in wrongful burial operations and did not disclose them to customers. The plaintiffs seek compensatory, consequential and punitive damages as well as the appointment of a receiver to oversee cemetery operations. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

Michele Baio, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Beth David Memorial Gardens, Inc. et al.; Case No. 502012CA006532MB, in the Circuit Court of the 15^th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County of Florida. This case was filed by counsel for plaintiffs in the preceding Sands and Zinn cases on April 5, 2012 regarding the Beth David Memorial Gardens and Chapel located in Hollywood, Florida. Although we acquired the cemetery in connection with our 2006 acquisition of Alderwoods Group, Inc., we never managed the cemetery and sold it to a third party shortly after closing on the Alderwoods acquisition. The plaintiff seeks to certify a class of cemetery plot owners and their families. The plaintiff alleges the cemetery engaged in wrongful burial operations and did not disclose them to customers. The plaintiff seeks compensatory, consequential and punitive damages as well as the appointment of a receiver to oversee cemetery operations. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

Antitrust Claims. We are named as a defendant in an antitrust case filed in 2005. The case is Cause No 4:05-CV-03394; Funeral Consumers Alliance, Inc. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas — Houston (“Funeral Consumers Case”). This was a purported class action on behalf of casket consumers throughout the United States alleging that we and several other companies involved in the funeral industry violated federal antitrust laws and state consumer laws by engaging in various anti-competitive conduct associated with the sale of caskets. Based on the case proceeding as a class action, the plaintiffs filed an expert report indicating that the damages sought from all defendants range from approximately $950 million to $1.5 billion, before trebling. However, the trial court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the case as a class action. We deny that we engaged in anticompetitive practices related to our casket sales, and we have filed reports of our experts, which vigorously dispute the validity of the plaintiffs’ damages theories and calculations. The trial court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims on September 24, 2010, and the plaintiffs filed an appeal on October 19, 2010. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Wage and Hour Claims. We are named a defendant in various lawsuits alleging violations of federal and state laws regulating wage and hour overtime pay, including but not limited to the Prise, Bryant, Bryant, Helm, Stickle, and Southern lawsuits described

30

in the following paragraphs.

Prise, et al., v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., and Service Corporation International; Cause No. 06-164; in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Wage and Hour Lawsuit”). The Wage and Hour Lawsuit was filed by two former Alderwoods (Pennsylvania), Inc. employees in December 2006 and purports to have been brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) on behalf of all Alderwoods and SCI-affiliated employees who performed work for which they were not fully compensated, including work for which overtime pay was owed. Although the court initially conditionally certified a class of claims as to certain job positions for Alderwoods employees, the court granted our motion to decertify the class on September 9, 2011.

Plaintiffs allege causes of action for violations of the FLSA, failure to maintain proper records, breach of contract, violations of state wage and hour laws, unjust enrichment, fraud and deceit, quantum meruit, negligent misrepresentation, and negligence. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, unpaid wages, liquidated, compensatory, consequential and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, and pre- and post-judgment interest. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Bryant, et al. v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 3:07-CV-5696-SI; in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. This lawsuit was filed on November 8, 2007 against SCI and various subsidiaries and individuals. It is related to the Wage and Hour Lawsuit, raising similar claims and brought by the same attorneys. This lawsuit has been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and is now Case No. 08-CV-00891-JFC. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Bryant, et al. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. RG-07359593; and Helm, et al. v. AWGI & SCI; Case No. RG-07359602; in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda. These cases were filed on December 5, 2007 by counsel for plaintiffs in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit. These cases assert state law claims similar to the federal claims asserted in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit. These cases were removed to federal court in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco/Oakland Division. The Bryant case is now Case No. 3:08-CV-01190-SI and the Helm case is now Case No. C 08-01184-SI. On December 29, 2009, the court in the Helm case denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the case as a class action. The plaintiffs modified and refiled their motion for certification. On March 9, 2011, the court denied plaintiffs’ renewed motions to certify a class in both of the Bryant and Helm cases. The plaintiffs have also (i) filed additional lawsuits with similar allegations seeking class certification of state law claims in different states, and (ii) made a large number of demands for arbitration. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in these lawsuits.

Stickle, et al. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 08-CV-83; in the U.S. District Court for Arizona, Phoenix Division. Counsel for plaintiffs in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit filed this case on January 17, 2008, against SCI and various related entities and individuals asserting FLSA and other ancillary claims based on the alleged failure to pay for overtime. In September 2009, the Court conditionally certified a class of claims as to certain job positions of SCI affiliated employees. On April 20, 2011, the court granted our motion to decertify the class. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Southern, et al. v. SCI Kentucky Funeral Services, Inc.; Case No. 11CIO6501; in the Jefferson Circuit Court, Division Eight, Kentucky. This lawsuit was filed on October 6, 2011 against an SCI subsidiary and purports to have been brought on behalf of employees who worked in Kentucky as funeral directors. The plaintiffs allege causes of action for various violations of Kentucky wage and hour laws, and breach of contract. Plaintiffs seek unpaid wages, compensatory and exemplary relief, damages, attorneys' fees and costs, and pre- and post judgment interest. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

The ultimate outcome of the matters described above cannot be determined at this time. We intend to vigorously defend all of the above lawsuits; however, an adverse decision in one or more of such matters could have a material effect on us, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

16. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing Net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other obligations to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common shares that then shared in our earnings.

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations is presented below:

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	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income:
Net income — basic	$	48,025	$	38,764
After tax interest on convertible debt	13		13
Net income — diluted	$	48,038	$	38,777
Weighted average shares (denominator):
Weighted average shares — basic	220,132		239,772
Stock options	2,959		2,159
Convertible debt	121		121
Weighted average shares — diluted	223,212		242,052
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.22	$	0.16
Diluted	$	0.22	$	0.16

The computation of diluted EPS excludes outstanding stock options and convertible debt in certain periods in which the inclusion of such options and debt would be anti-dilutive in the periods presented. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, total options and convertible debentures not currently included in the computation of dilutive EPS were 4.3 million and 5.6 million, respectively.

17. Acquisitions

Neptune

The Company acquired 70% of the outstanding shares of The Neptune Society, Inc. (Neptune) on June 3, 2011 for $44 million. Neptune is the nation's largest direct cremation organization which had a network of 30 locations in nine states at acquisition. Neptune operates under the brand names Neptune Society, Neptune Cremation Service, and Trident Society. With this acquisition we will be expanding the footprint into a sector of the market that will continue to grow and that we do not currently target through our traditional funeral service and cemetery network. We have not completed our purchase price allocation as we are still reviewing the underlying accounting records.

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The Company

We are North America’s largest provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral homes and cemeteries unequalled in geographic scale and reach. At March 31, 2012, we operated 1,419 funeral service locations and 373 cemeteries (including 214 combination locations) in North America, which are geographically diversified across 43 states, 8 Canadian provinces, and the District of Columbia. Our funeral segment also includes the operations of 12 funeral homes in Germany that we intend to exit when economic values and conditions are conducive to a sale. Our funeral service and cemetery operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses. We sell cemetery property and funeral and cemetery products and services at the time of need and on a preneed basis.

Our financial position is enhanced by our $7.2 billion backlog of future revenues from both trust and insurance-funded sales at March 31, 2012, which is the result of preneed funeral and cemetery sales. We believe we have the financial strength and flexibility to reward shareholders through dividends while maintaining a prudent capital structure and pursuing new opportunities for profitable growth. We currently have approximately $138.5 million authorized to repurchase our common stock.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Trust Investments

In addition to selling our products and services to client families at the time of need, we sell price-guaranteed preneed funeral and cemetery contracts, which provide for future funeral or cemetery services and merchandise. Since preneed funeral and cemetery

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services or merchandise will not be provided until sometime in the future, most states and provinces require that all or a portion of the funds collected from customers on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts be paid into trusts and/or preneed escrow accounts until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. Investment earnings associated with the trust investments are expected to mitigate the inflationary costs of providing the preneed funeral and cemetery services and merchandise in the future for the prices that were guaranteed at the time of sale.

Also, we are required by state and provincial law to pay a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights into perpetual care trusts. For these investments, the original corpus remains in the trust in perpetuity and the net ordinary earnings are intended to offset the expense to maintain the cemetery property. The majority of states require that net gains or losses are retained and added to the corpus, but certain states allow the net realized gains and losses to be included in the income that is distributed.

Independent trustees manage and invest all of the funds deposited into the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts as well as the cemetery perpetual care trusts. The trustees are selected based on their respective geographic footprint and qualifications per state and provincial regulations. All of the trustees engage the same independent investment advisor either directly or indirectly through SCI's wholly-owned registered investment advisor. The trustees, with input from the investment advisor, establish an investment policy that serves as an operating document to guide the investment activities of the trusts including asset allocation and manager selection. The investments are also governed by state and provincial guidelines. Asset allocation for the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts is generally based on matching the time period that we expect the funeral or cemetery preneed contract to be outstanding. Since net ordinary earnings are distributed monthly from the cemetery perpetual care trusts to offset cemetery maintenance costs, the cemetery perpetual care trusts contain a higher fixed income allocation than the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts. The investment advisor recommends investment managers to the trustees that are selected on the basis of various criteria set forth in the investment policy. The primary investment objectives for the funeral and cemetery merchandise and service trusts include (1) achieving growth of principal over time sufficient to preserve and increase the purchasing power of the assets, and (2) preserving capital within acceptable levels of volatility. Preneed funeral and cemetery contracts generally take years to mature. Therefore, the funds associated with these contracts are often invested for several market cycles. While cemetery perpetual care trusts share the same investment objectives as listed above, these trusts emphasize providing a steady stream of investment income with some capital appreciation. The trusts seek to control risk and volatility through a combination of asset styles, asset classes, and institutional investment managers.

As of March 31, 2012, 84% of our trusts were under the control and custody of two large financial institutions engaged as preferred trustees. The U.S. trustees primarily use common trust fund structures as the investment vehicle for their trusts. Through the common trust fund structure, each respective trustee manages the allocation of assets through individual managed accounts or institutional mutual funds. In the event a particular state prohibits the use of a common trust fund as a qualified investment, the trustee utilizes institutional mutual funds. The U.S. trusts include a modest allocation to alternative investments, which are comprised primarily of private equity and real estate investments. These investments are structured as limited liability companies (LLCs) and are managed by certain trustees. The trusts that are eligible to allocate a portion of their investments to alternative investments purchase units of the respective LLCs.

Fixed Income Securities

Fixed income investments are intended to preserve principal, provide a source of current income, and reduce overall portfolio volatility. The SCI trusts have direct investments primarily in government fixed income securities. Insurance backed fixed income investments preserve the principal, guarantee annual appreciation, and reduce overall portfolio volatility.

Canadian government fixed income securities are investments in Canadian federal and provincial government instruments. In many cases, regulatory restrictions mandate that the funds from the sales of preneed funeral and cemetery products sold in certain Canadian jurisdictions must be invested in these instruments.

Equity Securities

Equity investments have historically provided long-term capital appreciation in excess of inflation. The SCI trusts have direct investments primarily in domestic equity portfolios that include large, mid, and small capitalization companies of different investment objectives (i.e., growth and value). The majority of the equity portfolio is managed by multiple institutional investment managers that specialize in an objective-specific area of expertise. Our equity securities are exposed to market risk; however, these securities are well-diversified. As of March 31, 2012, the largest single equity position represented less than 1% of the total equity securities portfolio.

Mutual Funds

The SCI trust funds employ institutional mutual funds where operationally or economically efficient. Institutional mutual funds are utilized to invest in various asset classes including US equities, non-US equities, convertible bonds, corporate bonds,

33

government bonds, Treasury inflation protected securities (TIPS), high yield bonds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and commodities. The mutual funds are governed by guidelines outlined in their individual prospectuses.

Private Equity

The objective of these investments is to provide high rates of return with controlled volatility. These investments are typically long-term in duration. These investments are diversified by strategy, sector, manager, and vintage year. Private equity exposure is accessed through LLCs established by certain preferred trustees. These LLCs invest in numerous limited partnerships, including private equity, fund of funds, distressed debt, and mezzanine financing. The trustees that have oversight of their respective LLCs work closely with the investment advisor in making all current investments.

Trust Performance

The trust fund income recognized from these investment assets continues to be volatile. During the twelve months ended March 31, 2012, the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index increased approximately 8.5% and the Barclay’s Aggregate Index increased approximately 7.7%, while the combined SCI trusts increased approximately 5.0%.

SCI, its trustees, and its investment advisor continue to monitor the capital markets and the trusts on an ongoing basis. The trustees, with input from the investment advisor, will take prudent action as needed to achieve the investment goals and objectives of the trusts.

Capital Allocation Considerations

We rely on cash flow from operations as a significant source of liquidity. Our cash flow from operating activities provided $95.8 million in the first quarter of 2012. In addition, we have $402.3 million in excess borrowing capacity under our bank credit facility. We currently have no significant maturities of long-term debt until October 2014.

Our bank credit facility requires us to maintain certain leverage and interest coverage ratios. As of March 31, 2012 we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants. Our financial covenant requirements and actual ratios as of March 31, 2012 are as follows:

	Per Credit Agreement	Actual
Leverage ratio	4.00 (Max)	3.18
Interest coverage ratio	3.00 (Min)	4.31

We believe our sources of liquidity can be supplemented by our ability to access the capital markets for additional debt or equity securities. We believe that our cash on hand, future operating cash flows, and the available capacity under our credit facility will be adequate to meet our financial obligations over the next 12 months.

We expect to continue to focus on funding growth initiatives that generate increased profitability, revenue, and cash flows. These capital investments include the construction of high-end cemetery property (such as private family estates) and the construction of funeral home facilities. We will also consider the acquisition of additional deathcare operations that fit our long-term customer-focused strategy, if such acquisitions have the proper return on investment.

Since November 2007, we have paid quarterly dividends of $0.04 per common share. On February 9, 2011, our Board of Directors approved the payment of a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share. While we intend to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, all future dividends are subject to limitations in our debt covenants and final determination by our Board of Directors each quarter upon review of our financial performance.

Currently, we have approximately $138.5 million authorized under our share repurchase program. We intend to make purchases from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions, debt covenants, and normal trading restrictions. Our credit agreement contains covenants that limit our ability to repurchase our common stock. There can be no assurance that we will buy our common stock under our share repurchase program in the future.

Cash Flow

We believe our ability to generate strong operating cash flow is one of our fundamental financial strengths and provides us with substantial flexibility in meeting operating and investing needs.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $12.2 million to $95.8 million in the first quarter of 2012 from $108.0 million in the first quarter of 2011. This decrease was primarily due to an anticipated increase in net cash tax payments of $7.4

34

million. Additionally, we also experienced higher annual and long-term incentive compensation payments of $9.6 million resulting from improved financial performance and total shareholder return. These decreases were partially offset by $6.2 million in higher net trust withdrawals.

Investing Activities

Cash flows from investing activities used $22.7 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to using $27.4 million in the same period of 2011. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of $9.7 million in cash spent on acquisitions, partially offset by a $4.4 million decrease in cash receipts from divestitures and asset sales.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $89.1 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to using $43.4 million in the same period of 2011. This increase was primarily driven by a $44.9 million increase in the repurchases of Company common stock.

We repurchased 6.8 million shares in the first quarter of 2012 for $75.1 million and 3.2 million shares in the same period of 2011 for $30.2 million.

We paid cash dividends of $11.1 million in the first quarter of 2012 and $9.6 million in the same period of 2011.

Financial Assurances

In support of our operations, we have entered into arrangements with certain surety companies whereby such companies agree to issue surety bonds on our behalf as financial assurance and/or as required by existing state and local regulations. The surety bonds are used for various business purposes; however, the majority of the surety bonds issued and outstanding have been used to support our preneed funeral and cemetery sales activities. The obligations underlying these surety bonds are recorded on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as Deferred preneed funeral revenues and Deferred preneed cemetery revenues. The breakdown of surety bonds between funeral and cemetery preneed arrangements, as well as surety bonds for other activities, is described below.

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(Dollars in millions)
Preneed funeral	$	110.6	$	116.6
Preneed cemetery:
Merchandise and services	114.0		116.6
Pre-construction	6.4		6.3
Bonds supporting preneed funeral and cemetery obligations	231.0		239.5
Bonds supporting preneed business permits	2.6		2.2
Other bonds	15.5		15.4
Total surety bonds outstanding	$	249.1	$	257.1

When selling preneed funeral and cemetery contracts, we may post surety bonds where allowed by state law. We post the surety bonds in lieu of trusting a certain amount of funds received from the customer. The amount of the bond posted is generally determined by the total amount of the preneed contract that would otherwise be required to be trusted, in accordance with applicable state law. For the three months endedMarch 31, 2012 and 2011, we had $4.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively, of cash receipts attributable to bonded sales. These amounts do not consider reductions associated with taxes, obtaining costs, or other costs.

Surety bond premiums are paid annually and are automatically renewable until maturity of the underlying preneed contracts, unless we are given prior notice of cancellation. Except for cemetery pre-construction bonds (which are irrevocable), the surety companies generally have the right to cancel the surety bonds at any time with appropriate notice. In the event a surety company were to cancel the surety bond, we are required to obtain replacement surety assurance from another surety company or fund a trust for an amount generally less than the posted bond amount. Management does not expect that we will be required to fund material future amounts related to these surety bonds because of lack of surety capacity or surety company non-performance.

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Activities and Backlog of Contracts

In addition to selling our products and services to client families at the time of need, we sell price-guaranteed preneed funeral and cemetery contracts, which provide for future funeral or cemetery services and merchandise. Since preneed funeral and cemetery services or merchandise will not be provided until sometime in the future, most states and provinces require that all or a portion of the funds collected from customers on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts be paid into merchandise and service trusts until the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. These trust funds own investments in equity and debt securities and

35

mutual funds, which are sensitive to current market prices. In certain situations, as described above, where permitted by state or provincial laws, we post a surety bond as financial assurance for a certain amount of the preneed funeral or cemetery contract in lieu of placing funds into trust accounts.

Trust-Funded Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Contracts: The funds are deposited into trust and invested by independent trustees in accordance with state and provincial laws. We retain any funds above the amounts required to be deposited into trust accounts and use them for working capital purposes, generally to offset the selling and administrative costs of our preneed programs.

The tables below detail our results of preneed funeral and cemetery production and maturities, excluding insurance contracts, for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.

	North America
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(Dollars in millions)
Funeral:
Preneed trust-funded (including bonded):
Sales production (1)	$	37.7	$	24.7
Sales production (number of contracts) (1)	14,077		5,437
Maturities (1)	$	56.1	$	48.2
Maturities (number of contracts) (1)	14,235		10,784
Cemetery:
Sales production:
Preneed	$	124.5	$	110.3
Atneed	59.4		61.7
Total sales production	$	183.9	$	172.0
Sales production deferred to backlog:
Preneed	$	55.2	$	45.9
Atneed	45.4		47.0
Total sales production deferred to backlog	$	100.6	$	92.9
Revenue recognized from backlog:
Preneed	$	32.3	$	34.0
Atneed	44.0		44.4
Total revenue recognized from backlog	$	76.3	$	78.4

(1) The increase in sales production and maturities in 2012 is the result of our acquisition of Neptune Cremation Society, which has a lower average selling price per contract.

Insurance-Funded Preneed Funeral Contracts: Where permitted by state or provincial law, customers may arrange their preneed funeral contract by purchasing a life insurance or annuity policy from third-party insurance companies, for which we earn a commission as general sales agent for the insurance company. The policy amount of the insurance contract between the customer and the third-party insurance company generally equals the amount of the preneed funeral contract. We do not reflect the unfulfilled insurance-funded preneed funeral contract amounts in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

The table below details the results of insurance-funded preneed funeral production and maturities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, and the number of contracts associated with those transactions.

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	North America
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(Dollars in millions)
Preneed funeral insurance-funded:
Sales production (1)	$	134.4	$	100.0
Sales production (number of contracts) (1)	22,776		17,563
General agency revenue	$	23.3	$	19.3
Maturities	$	83.1	$	76.8
Maturities (number of contracts)	14,672		13,942

(1) Amounts are not included in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet.

North America Backlog of Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Contracts: The following table reflects our North America backlog of trust-funded deferred preneed funeral and cemetery contract revenues, including amounts related to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Additionally, the table reflects our backlog of unfulfilled insurance-funded contracts (which are not included in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet) at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. The backlog amounts presented are reduced by an amount that we believe will cancel before maturity based on historical experience.

The table also reflects our preneed funeral and cemetery receivables and trust investments (market and cost bases) associated with the backlog of deferred preneed funeral and cemetery contract revenues, net of the estimated cancellation allowance. We believe that the table below is meaningful because it sets forth the aggregate amount of future revenues we expect to recognize as a result of preneed sales, as well as the amount of assets associated with those revenues. Because the future revenues exceed the asset amounts, future revenues will exceed the cash distributions actually received from the associated trusts.

	March 31, 2012						December 31, 2011
	Market			Cost			Market			Cost
				(Dollars in billions)
Deferred preneed funeral revenues	$	0.56		$	0.56		$	0.58		$	0.58
Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	1.32			1.30			1.27			1.29
	$	1.88		$	1.86		$	1.85		$	1.87
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.15		)	(0.15		)	(0.15		)	(0.15		)
Backlog of trust-funded preneed funeral revenues	$	1.73		$	1.71		$	1.70		$	1.72
Backlog of insurance-funded preneed funeral revenues	3.46			3.46			3.40			3.40
Total backlog of preneed funeral revenues	$	5.19		$	5.17		$	5.10		$	5.12
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$	1.52		$	1.50		$	1.48		$	1.50
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.13		)	(0.13		)	(0.14		)	(0.14		)
Assets associated with backlog of trust-funded deferred preneed funeral revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation	$	1.39		$	1.37		$	1.34		$	1.36
Insurance policies associated with insurance-funded deferred preneed funeral revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation	3.46			3.46			3.40			3.40
Total assets associated with backlog of preneed funeral revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation	$	4.85		$	4.83		$	4.74		$	4.76
Deferred preneed cemetery revenues	$	0.86		$	0.86		$	0.83		$	0.83
Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	1.24			1.18			1.15			1.15
	$	2.10		$	2.04		$	1.98		$	1.98
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.14		)	(0.15		)	(0.16		)	(0.16		)
Total backlog of deferred cemetery revenues	$	1.96		$	1.89		$	1.82		$	1.82
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments	$	1.72		$	1.63		$	1.60		$	1.59
Allowance for cancellation on trust investments	(0.15		)	(0.15		)	(0.15		)	(0.15		)
Total assets associated with backlog of deferred cemetery revenues, net of estimated allowance for cancellation	$	1.57		$	1.48		$	1.45		$	1.44

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The market value of our funeral and cemetery trust investments was based on a combination of quoted market prices, observable inputs such as interest rates or yield curves, and appraisals. The difference between the backlog and asset amounts represents the contracts for which we have posted surety bonds as financial assurance in lieu of trusting, the amounts collected from customers that were not required to be deposited into trust, and allowable cash distributions from trust assets. The table also reflects the amounts expected to be received from insurance companies through the assignment of policy proceeds related to insurance-funded funeral contracts.

Results of Operations — Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 and 2011

Management Summary

Key highlights in the first quarter of 2012 were as follows:

• Funeral gross profits increased $0.7 million, or 0.7%, due to higher case volume and higher General Agency Revenues (insurance commissions) related to preneed funeral production, partially offset by higher selling related expenses; and

• Cemetery gross profits increased $0.5 million, or 1.8%, due to higher cemetery preneed property sales production and other cemetery revenues, partially offset by higher selling related expenses.

Results of Operations

In the first quarter of 2012, we reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $48.0 million ($.22 per diluted share) compared to net income attributable to common stockholders in the first quarter of 2011 of $38.8 million ($.16 per diluted share). These results were impacted by the following items:

	2012			2011
	(Dollars in thousands)
Net after-tax losses from the sale of assets	$	(354	)	$	(458	)
After-tax losses from the early extinguishment of debt, net	$	—		$	(185	)
After-tax expenses related to acquisitions	$	(35	)	$	(580	)
Change in certain tax reserves and other	$	3,326		$	(1,003	)

Consolidated Versus Comparable Results

The table below reconciles our consolidated GAAP results to our comparable, or “same store,” results for the three months ended March 31,2012 and 2011. We define comparable operations (or same store operations) as those funeral and cemetery locations that were owned for the entire period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending March 31,2012. The following tables present operating results for funeral and cemetery locations that were owned by us during this period.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012	Consolidated			Less: Results Associated with Acquisition/New Construction		Less: Results Associated with Divestitures			Comparable
				(Dollars in millions)
North America Revenue
Funeral revenue	$	422.5		$	21.0	$	—		$	401.5
Cemetery revenue	178.2			—		0.3			177.9
	600.7			21.0		0.3			579.4
Germany revenue	1.8			—		—			1.8
Total revenue	$	602.5		$	21.0	$	0.3		$	581.2
North America Gross Profits
Funeral gross profits	$	100.2		$	2.4	$	(0.9	)	$	98.7
Cemetery gross profits	27.6			—		0.2			27.4
	127.8			2.4		(0.7		)	126.1
Germany gross profits	(0.2		)	—		—			(0.2		)
Total gross profits	$	127.6		$	2.4	$	(0.7	)	$	125.9

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2011	Consolidated		Less: Results Associated with Acquisition/New Construction			Less: Results Associated with Divestitures		Comparable
			(Dollars in millions)
North America Revenue
Funeral revenue	$	406.5	$	1.5		$	1.5	$	403.5
Cemetery revenue	171.3		—			2.0		169.3
	577.8		1.5			3.5		572.8
Germany revenue	1.9		—			—		1.9
Total revenue	$	579.7	$	1.5		$	3.5	$	574.7
North America Gross Profits
Funeral gross profits	$	99.1	$	0.6		$	0.1	$	98.4
Cemetery gross profits	27.1		(0.1		)	0.3		26.9
	126.2		0.5			0.4		125.3
Germany gross profits	0.2		—			—		0.2
Total gross profits	$	126.4	$	0.5		$	0.4	$	125.5

The following table provides the data necessary to calculate our consolidated average revenue per funeral service for the three months ended March 31,2012 and 2011. We calculate average revenue per funeral service by dividing consolidated funeral revenue, excluding General Agency (GA) revenues and certain other revenues to avoid distorting our averages of normal funeral services revenue, by the number of consolidated funeral services performed during the period.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(Dollars in millions, except average revenue per funeral service)
Consolidated funeral revenue	$	424.3	$	408.4
Less: Consolidated GA revenue	23.3		19.3
Less: Other revenue	13.2		2.5
Adjusted consolidated funeral revenue	$	387.8	$	386.6
Consolidated funeral services performed	74,706		72,968
Consolidated average revenue per funeral service	$	5,191	$	5,298

The following table provides the data necessary to calculate our comparable average revenue per funeral service for the three months ended March 31,2012 and 2011. We calculate average revenue per funeral service by dividing comparable funeral revenue, excluding comparable GA revenues and certain other revenues to avoid distorting our averages of normal funeral services revenue, by the number of comparable funeral services performed during the period.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(Dollars in millions, except average revenue per funeral service)
Comparable funeral revenue	$	403.3	$	405.4
Less: Comparable GA revenue	23.1		19.3
Less: Other revenue	2.6		2.5
Adjusted comparable funeral revenue	$	377.6	$	383.6
Comparable funeral services performed	69,130		72,432
Comparable average revenue per funeral service	$	5,462	$	5,296

Funeral Results

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Funeral Revenue

Consolidated revenues from funeral operations were $424.3 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $408.4 million for the same period in 2011. This increase is attributable to $19.5 million of additional revenues as the result of acquisitions in 2011. These increases were partially offset by a decline of $1.5 million in revenues contributed by non-strategic assets that were divested throughout 2012 and 2011 and the $2.1 million decrease in comparable revenues described below.

Comparable revenues from funeral operations were $403.3 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $405.4 million for the same period in 2011. This decrease was primarily due to lower funeral services performed, partially offset by an increase in the average revenue per funeral and a $3.8 million increase in GA revenues (insurance commissions) that resulted from increased insurance funded preneed funeral production.

Funeral Services Performed

Our consolidated funeral services performed increased 2.4% during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011 primarily as the result of acquisitions in 2012 and 2011, partially offset by a 4.6% decrease in comparable funeral services performed. We believe the comparable decrease is consistent with trends experienced by other funeral service providers and industry vendors. Our comparable cremation rate of 45.0% in the first quarter of 2012 increased from 44.1% in 2011. We continue to expand our cremation memorialization products and services, which have resulted in higher average sales for cremation services.

Average Revenue Per Funeral Service

Our consolidated average revenue per funeral service decreased $107, or 2.0% ,in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 2011, primarily as a result of our acquisition of Neptune which has a lower average partially offset by the increase in comparable average revenue per funeral service described below. Our comparable average revenue per funeral service increased $166, or 3.1%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. Excluding an unfavorable Canadian currency impact and higher funeral trust fund income, the average revenue per funeral service grew approximately 3.2%.

Funeral Gross Profits

Consolidated funeral gross profits increased $0.7 million, or 0.7%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. This increase is primarily attributable to $1.8 million of additional gross profits related to acquisitions that occurred in 2011, partially offset by a $0.1 million decrease in comparable gross profits and a decline of $1.0 million of gross profits that were contributed by non-strategic assets divested throughout 2012 and 2011.

Comparable funeral gross profits were relatively flat as we were able to reduce fixed and variable costs to offset the revenue decline and the comparable gross margin percentage increased from 24.3% to 24.4% in the first quarter of 2012 when compared to the same period in 2011.

Cemetery Results

Cemetery Revenue

Consolidated cemetery revenues increased $6.9 million, or 4.0%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. This increase was partially offset by a decline of $1.7 million in revenues contributed by non-strategic assets that were divested throughout 2012 and 2011. Comparable cemetery revenues increased $8.6 million, or 5.1%, primarily as a result of higher cemetery preneed property sales production and higher trust fund income during the current quarter, partially offset by lower atneed revenues.

Cemetery Gross Profits

Consolidated cemetery gross profits increased $0.5 million, or 1.8%, in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. This increase is primarily the result of the increase in comparable gross profits.

Comparable cemetery gross profits increased $0.5 million, or 1.9%, and gross margin percentage decreased from 15.9% to 15.4% in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011. The increase in revenues was partially offset by higher selling expenses related to current quarter preneed sales initiatives. Selling costs are recognized in the period incurred; however, the revenue associated with the preneed production is not recognized until the services are performed as described in Critical Accounting Policies, Recent Accounting Pronouncements, and Accounting Changes below.

Other Financial Statement Items

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased $2.8 million to $26.0 million during the first quarter of 2012 compared to

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$28.8 million in the same period of 2011. This decrease is due to a reduction of $2.7 million in other professional fees which is associated with a favorable legal settlement of $2.1 million.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net increased $3.2 million to $3.9 million during the first quarter of 2012, primarily due to a favorable foreign currency impact from liability settlements between the U.S. and Canadian Subsidiaries.

Provision for Income Taxes

Income tax expense during interim periods is based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate plus any discrete items which are recorded in the period in which they occur. Discrete items include, among others, such events as changes in estimates due to the finalization of tax returns, tax audit settlements, expiration of statute of limitations, and increases or decreases in valuation allowances. Our effective tax rate was 32.4% and 37.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The effective tax rate of 32.4% for the first quarter of 2012 was below the 35% federal statutory tax rate due to the benefits associated with the settlement of a tax audit and foreign jurisdictions taxed at different rates, which is partially offset by state tax expense.

Weighted Average Shares

The diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding was 223.2 million during the first quarter of 2012, compared to 242.1 million0.0 millionin the same period of 2011. The decrease in the number of shares reflects the impact of shares repurchased under our share repurchase program.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

No other significant changes to our accounting policies have occurred subsequent to December 31, 2011, except as described below within Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Changes

For discussion of recent accounting pronouncements and accounting changes, see Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements, Note 3.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

The statements in this Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such as “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” or “predict,” that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by us, or on our behalf. Important factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, the following:

• Our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity securities, fixed income securities, and mutual funds, which are affected by market conditions that are beyond our control.

• We may be required to replenish our affiliated funeral and cemetery trust funds in order to meet minimum funding requirements, which would have a negative effect on our earnings and cash flow.

• Our ability to execute our strategic plan depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.  

• Our credit agreements contain covenants that may prevent us from engaging in certain transactions. 

• If we lost the ability to use surety bonding to support our preneed funeral and preneed cemetery activities, we may be required to make material cash payments to fund certain trust funds.

• The funeral home and cemetery industry continues to be increasingly competitive.

• Increasing death benefits related to preneed funeral contracts funded through life insurance or annuity contracts may not cover future increases in the cost of providing a price-guaranteed funeral service. 

• The financial condition of third-party insurance companies that fund our preneed funeral contracts may impact our

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future revenues.

• Unfavorable results of litigation could have a material adverse impact on our financial statements.

• Unfavorable publicity could affect our reputation and business.

• If the number of deaths in our markets declines, our cash flows and revenues may decrease.

• The continuing upward trend in the number of cremations performed in North America could result in lower revenues and gross profit. 

• Our funeral home and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost businesses. 

• Regulation and compliance could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

• Cemetery burial practice claims could have a material adverse impact on our financial results. 

• A number of years may elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have established accruals, are audited and finally resolved.

• Declines in overall economic conditions beyond our control could reduce future potential earnings and cash flows and could result in future goodwill impairments.

For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed February 13, 2012. Copies of this document as well as other SEC filings can be obtained from our website at www.sci-corp.com. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Marketable Equity and Debt Securities — Price Risk

In connection with our preneed funeral operations and preneed cemetery merchandise and service sales, the related funeral and cemetery trust funds own investments in equity and debt securities and mutual funds, which are sensitive to current market prices.

Cost and market values as of March 31, 2012 are presented in Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements and Notes 4, 5, and 6 of this Form 10-Q. Also, see Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Financial Conditions, Liquidity and Capital Resources, for discussion of trust investments.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of March 31, 2012, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified by the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2012 and that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with US GAAP.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Information regarding legal proceedings is set forth in Note 15 in Item 1 of Part I of this Form 10-Q, which information is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our Risk Factors as set forth in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On January 31, 2012, we issued 1,179 deferred common stock equivalents, or units, pursuant to provisions regarding dividends under the Amended and Restated Director Fee Plan to four non-employee directors. We did not receive any monetary consideration for the issuances. These issuances were unregistered because they did not constitute a “sale” within the meaning of Section 2(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

In February 2012, our Board of Directors approved an increase in our share repurchase program authorizing the investment of up to an additional $120 million to repurchase our common stock, bringing total authorization up to $200 million. As of March 31, 2012, the remaining dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under our currently approved share repurchase program was approximately $146.8 million.

Period	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced programs	Dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the programs
January 1, 2012 — January 31, 2012	1,431,821	$	10.82	1,431,821	$	84,065,453
February 1, 2012 — February 29, 2012	4,340,300	$	11.18	4,340,300	$	155,938,132
March 1, 2012 — March 31, 2012	992,984	$	11.18	819,749	$	146,776,796
	6,765,105			6,591,870

Subsequent to March 31, 2012, we repurchased an additional 759,276 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $8.3 million, which is an average cost per share of $10.93. After these second quarter repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program is approximately $138.5 million.

Item 6. Exhibits

12.1	Ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
31.1	Certification of Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101	Interactive data file.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

April 26, 2012		SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL
	By:	/s/ Tammy Moore
		Tammy Moore
		Vice President and Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

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Index to Exhibits

12.1	Ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
31.1	Certification of Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2	Certification of Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Thomas L. Ryan as Chief Executive Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2	Certification of Periodic Financial Reports by Eric D. Tanzberger as Principal Financial Officer in satisfaction of Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101	Interactive data file.

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EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

SERVICE CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(In thousands, except ratio amounts)

	Three months ended March 31,
	2012		2011
Earnings:
Pretax income	$	71,435	$	63,994
Add fixed charges as adjusted (from below)	35,490		35,208
	$	106,925	$	99,202
Fixed charges:
Interest expense:
Corporate	$	32,394	$	32,375
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,194		1,184
1/3 of rental expense	1,902		1,649
Fixed charges	$	35,490	$	35,208
Ratio (earnings divided by fixed charges)	3.01		2.82

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Service Corporation International

a Texas corporation

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Section 302 Certification

I, Thomas L. Ryan, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Service Corporation International, a Texas corporation (the “registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	April 26, 2012	/s/ Thomas L. Ryan
		Thomas L. Ryan
		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Service Corporation International

a Texas corporation

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Section 302 Certification

I, Eric D. Tanzberger, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Service Corporation International, a Texas corporation (the “registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and we have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	April 26, 2012	/s/ Eric D. Tranzberger
		Eric D. Tranzberger
		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

I, Thomas L. Ryan, of Service Corporation International, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012 (the “Periodic Report”) which this statement accompanies fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(2) the information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Service Corporation International.

Dated:	April 26, 2012	/s/ Thomas L. Ryan
		Thomas L. Ryan
		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

I, Eric D. Tanzberger, of Service Corporation International, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012 (the “Periodic Report”) which this statement accompanies fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(2) the information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Service Corporation International.

Dated:	April 26, 2012	/s/ Eric D. Tanzberger
		Eric D. Tanzberger
		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

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Preneed Funeral Activities Long-term Receivable and Investment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$ 1,516,968	$ 1,478,865
Funeral [Member]
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	954,986	892,685
Cash and cash equivalents	92,970	101,111
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	269,149	277,650
Trust investments	1,317,105	1,271,446
Receivables from customers	241,685	246,601
Unearned finance charges	(5,428)	(5,425)
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments, excluding allowance for cancellation	1,553,362	1,512,622
Allowance for cancellation	(36,394)	(33,757)
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$ 1,516,968	$ 1,478,865

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Investment Related Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 67,445	$ 50,965
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(25,733)	(20,316)
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	6,544	5,789
Withdrawals	8,252	8,387
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	70,127	203,086
Sales of available-for-sale securities	52,886	267,666
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	2,162	21,241
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (2,215)	$ (10,661)

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) (Cemetery [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 1,091,515	$ 1,047,929
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	126,948	99,641
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(64,764)	(96,106)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	1,153,699	1,051,464
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	95,800	51,022
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	6,829	6,438
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(2,130)	(313)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	100,499	57,147
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	17,029	16,566
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	351	381
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(8)	(24)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	17,372	16,923
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	44,452	42,803
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	2,785	2,033
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(572)	(961)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	46,665	43,875
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	163	167
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	4	5
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(2)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	167	170
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value		0
Preferred Stock securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	3,059	3,365
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	130	86
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(204)	(270)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	2,985	3,181
US Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	347,048	408,075
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	88,890	71,138
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(10,942)	(30,454)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	424,996	448,759
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	17,819	18,289
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	3,451	2,547
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,576)	(1,780)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	19,694	19,056
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	28,236	30,501
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	3,165	1,843
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(669)	(1,536)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	30,732	30,808
Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	236,441	197,523
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	10,592	3,317
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(11,010)	(24,911)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	236,023	175,929
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	268,654	248,529
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	10,588	11,670
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(20,054)	(20,238)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	259,188	239,961
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	32,483	30,783
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	51	53
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(17,599)	(15,617)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	14,935	15,219
Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	331	306
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	112	130
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	$ 443	$ 436

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Equity Equity, Textuals (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Dividends declared per share		$ 0.05	$ 0.05
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash		$ 10.9
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorization Increase		120
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount		200
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired	759,276	6,591,870
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Par Value Method	8.3	73.2
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share	$ 10.93	$ 11.10
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount	$ 138.5	$ 146.8

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Long-term Receivable and Investment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$ 1,050,081	$ 1,016,506
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	999,259	952,573	952,573
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	50,822	63,933
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$ 1,050,081	$ 1,016,506

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 67,445	$ 50,965
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(25,733)	(20,316)
Cemetery [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	25,195	24,092
Withdrawals	24,733	29,944
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	270,083	133,565
Sales of available-for-sale securities	255,417	133,555
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	39,272	16,847
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (13,770)	$ (5,621)

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Share-Based Compensation Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

The fair values of our stock options are calculated using the following weighted average assumptions for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

	Three Months Ended
Assumptions	March 31, 2012
Dividend yield	1.8	%
Expected volatility	40.8	%
Risk-free interest rate	0.8	%
Expected holding period (in years)	5.0

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block]

The following table sets forth stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

	Options		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	13,404,216		$	7.88
Granted	2,023,500		11.18
Exercised	(422,234	)	5.50
Outstanding at March 31, 2012	15,005,482		$	8.40
Exercisable at March 31, 2012	10,642,843		$	7.82

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock Units Award Activity [Table Text Block]

Restricted share activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was as follows:

	Restricted shares		Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested restricted shares at December 31, 2011	1,165,170		$	7.53
Granted	483,170		11.18
Vested	(520,161	)	6.05
Nonvested restricted shares at March 31, 2012	1,128,179		$	9.78

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Commitments and Contingencies Level 4 (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Self Insurance Reserve	$ 53,100,000	$ 52,700,000
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Minimum	950,000,000
Loss Contingency, Range of Possible Loss, Maximum	$ 1,500,000,000

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Fair Value Hierarchy (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	$ 999,259	$ 952,573	$ 952,573
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	920,031		875,432
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	59,977		59,402
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	$ 19,251		$ 17,739

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Acquisition Acquisition, Textuals (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2011
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	$ 44
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	70.00%

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Segment Reporting Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 602,506	$ 579,699
Gross Profit	127,567	126,446
General and administrative expenses	(25,959)	(28,833)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(490)	(420)
Operating income	101,118	97,193
Interest expense	(33,588)	(33,559)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	0	(314)
Other income (expense), net	3,905	674
Income before income taxes	71,435	63,994
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	547,176	524,896
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	53,541	52,919
GERMANY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	1,789	1,884
Funeral [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	424,281	408,435
Gross Profit	100,024	99,355
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Cemetery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	178,225	171,264
Gross Profit	27,543	27,091
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other income (expense), net	$ 3,905	$ 674

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Acquisition Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Acquisition [Abstract]

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Acquisitions

Neptune

The Company acquired 70% of the outstanding shares of The Neptune Society, Inc. (Neptune) on June 3, 2011 for $44 million. Neptune is the nation's largest direct cremation organization which had a network of 30 locations in nine states at acquisition. Neptune operates under the brand names Neptune Society, Neptune Cremation Service, and Trident Society. With this acquisition we will be expanding the footprint into a sector of the market that will continue to grow and that we do not currently target through our traditional funeral service and cemetery network. We have not completed our purchase price allocation as we are still reviewing the underlying accounting records.

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Level 3 Activities (Details) (Cemetery [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Cemetery [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 15,655		$ 6,251
Net unrealized losses included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	(1,345)	[1]	6,311	[1]
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(12)	[2]	(8)	[2]
Sales	0		0
Contributions	1,356		503
Distributions and other	(276)		(2,393)
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 15,378		$ 10,664

[1] All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust

[2] All losses recognized in Other income, net for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust

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Preneed Funeral Activities Level 3 Activities (Details) (Funeral [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Funeral [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 16,898		$ 21,359
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	(1,300)	[1]	3,870	[1]
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(10)	[2]	(7)	[2]
Purchases	0		0
Sales	(9)		(194)
Contributions	1,278		486
Distributions and other	(254)		(144)
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 16,603		$ 25,370

[1] All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust

[2] All losses recognized in Other income, net for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust

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Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share, Textuals (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	4.3	5.6

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Earnings Per Share Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations is presented below:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income:
Net income — basic	$	48,025	$	38,764
After tax interest on convertible debt	13		13
Net income — diluted	$	48,038	$	38,777
Weighted average shares (denominator):
Weighted average shares — basic	220,132		239,772
Stock options	2,959		2,159
Convertible debt	121		121
Weighted average shares — diluted	223,212		242,052
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.22	$	0.16
Diluted	$	0.22	$	0.16

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Invstments (Details) (Cemetery [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	$ 239,175	$ 327,727
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(20,358)	(48,648)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	76,673	86,001
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(44,406)	(47,458)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	315,848	413,728
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(64,764)	(96,106)
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	43,178	1,736
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,932)	(51)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,287	3,038
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(198)	(262)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	45,465	4,774
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(2,130)	(313)
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,489	4,024
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(8)	(24)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	2,489	4,024
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(8)	(24)
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	13,559	15,044
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(483)	(850)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	538	1,747
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(89)	(111)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	14,097	16,791
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(572)	(961)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	29	2
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	0	(1)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	15
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	(1)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	29	17
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	0	(2)
Preferred Stock securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	1,382	1,583
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(198)	(270)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	66	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(6)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	1,448	1,583
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(204)	(270)
US Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	59,820	123,849
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(7,023)	(26,401)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	11,828	17,085
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(3,919)	(4,053)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	71,648	140,934
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(10,942)	(30,454)
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,255	7,694
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(987)	(1,260)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	420	366
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(589)	(520)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,675	8,060
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1,576)	(1,780)
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	5,230	8,654
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(223)	(629)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,620	3,772
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(446)	(907)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	7,850	12,426
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(669)	(1,536)
Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	25,667	115,725
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,593)	(11,222)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	35,401	36,398
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(9,417)	(13,689)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	61,068	152,123
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(11,010)	(24,911)
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	83,092	48,950
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(7,603)	(7,686)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	9,567	9,367
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(12,451)	(12,552)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	92,659	58,317
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(20,054)	(20,238)
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	474	466
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(308)	(254)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	13,946	14,213
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(17,291)	(15,363)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	14,420	14,679
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	$ (17,599)	$ (15,617)

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Share-Based Compensation Level 4 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	1.80%
Expected volatility	40.80%
Risk-free interest rate	0.80%
Expected holding period	5.0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options outstanding at beginning of period	13,404,216
Options outstanding at beginning of period, weighted average exercise price	$ 7.88
Granted	2,023,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.18
Exercised	422,234
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 5.50
Options outstanding at end of period	15,005,482
Options outstanding at end of period, weighted average exercise price	$ 8.40
Options exercisable at March 31, 2012	10,642,843
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 7.82
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested [Roll Forward]
Nonvested restricted shares at beginning of period	1,165,170
Nonvested restricted shares at beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 7.53
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period	483,170
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 11.18
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period	520,161
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 6.05
Nonvested restricted shares at end of period	1,128,179
Nonvested restricted shares at end of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 9.78

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Cemetry Perpetual Care Trusts, Textuals (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 650,000	$ 4,421,000
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, high end of the range	60.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, high end of the range	25.00%
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share, Unfunded Commitments	7,000,000
Investment Earnings, Net	9,000,000	9,200,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 1,000	$ 297,000

XML

Preneed Cemetery Activities Long-term Receivable and Investment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	$ 1,712,976	$ 1,595,940
Cemetery [Member]
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	1,153,699	1,051,464
Cash and cash equivalents	92,072	104,554
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	10	5
Trust investments	1,245,781	1,156,023
Receivables from customers	543,488	517,917
Unearned finance charges	(31,935)	(33,766)
Preneed cemetary receivables, net and trust investments, excluding allowance for cancellation	1,757,334	1,640,174
Allowance for cancellation	(44,358)	(44,234)
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	$ 1,712,976	$ 1,595,940

XML

Nature of Operations Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Nature of Operations [Abstract]

Nature of Operations [Text Block]

Nature of Operations

We are North America’s largest provider of deathcare products and services, with a network of funeral service locations and cemeteries primarily operating in the United States and Canada. Our operations consist of funeral service locations, cemeteries, funeral service/cemetery combination locations, crematoria, and related businesses.

Funeral service locations provide all professional services relating to funerals and cremations, including the use of funeral facilities and motor vehicles and preparation and embalming services. Funeral-related merchandise, including caskets, casket memorialization products, burial vaults, cremation receptacles, cremation memorial products, flowers, and other ancillary products and services, is sold at funeral service locations. Cemeteries provide cemetery property interment rights, including mausoleum spaces, lots, and lawn crypts, and sell cemetery-related merchandise and services, including stone and bronze memorials, markers, merchandise installations, and burial openings and closings. We also sell preneed funeral and cemetery products and services whereby a customer contractually agrees to the terms of certain products and services to be provided in the future.

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Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 67,445	$ 50,965
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(25,733)	(20,316)
Impairment charges	(650)	(4,421)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	10,199	16,511
Trust expenses and income taxes	(6,139)	(4,734)
Net trust investment income	45,122	38,005
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(45,122)	(38,005)
Other income, net	3,905	674
Total other income, net	3,905	674
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	2,562,886		2,427,469
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(4,440)		(3,113)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	2,558,446		2,424,356
Care trusts’ corpus	1,048,056		1,015,300
Funeral [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	26,011	12,877
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(9,748)	(4,034)
Impairment charges	(344)	(3,146)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	2,200	3,422
Trust expenses and income taxes	(2,569)	(1,383)
Net trust investment income	15,550	7,736
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(15,550)	(7,736)
Other income, net	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,317,105		1,271,446
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,936)		(1,261)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,315,169		1,270,185
Cemetery [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	39,272	16,847
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(13,770)	(5,621)
Impairment charges	(305)	(978)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	2,276	4,909
Trust expenses and income taxes	(3,185)	(1,755)
Net trust investment income	24,288	13,402
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(24,288)	(13,402)
Other income, net		0
Total other income, net	0	0
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,245,781		1,156,023
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(2,504)		(1,852)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,243,277		1,154,171
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	2,162	21,241
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(2,215)	(10,661)
Impairment charges	(1)	(297)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	5,723	8,180
Trust expenses and income taxes	(385)	(1,596)
Net trust investment income	5,284	16,867
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(5,284)	(16,867)
Other income, net	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0
Care trusts' corpus, excluding accrued expenses	1,050,081		1,016,506
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(2,025)		(1,206)
Care trusts’ corpus	1,048,056		1,015,300
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	0	0
Trust expenses and income taxes	0	0
Net trust investment income	0	0
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	0	0
Other income, net	3,905	674
Total other income, net	$ 3,905	$ 674

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Preneed Funeral Activities Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date (Details) (Funeral [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012
Funeral [Member]
Investments Classified By Contractual Maturity Date [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, within One Year, Fair Value	$ 134,939
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after One Through Five Years, Fair Value	60,065
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Five Through Ten Years, Fair Value	50,180
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Ten Years, Fair Value	34,635
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Total, Fair Value	$ 279,819

XML

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments [Line Items]

Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block]

Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	43,178	$	(1,932	)	$	2,287	$	(198	)	$	45,465	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	2,489		(8		)	—		—			2,489		(8		)
Corporate	13,559		(483		)	538		(89		)	14,097		(572		)
Residential mortgage-backed	29		—			—		—			29		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,382		(198		)	66		(6		)	1,448		(204		)
Common stock:
United States	59,820		(7,023		)	11,828		(3,919		)	71,648		(10,942		)
Canada	4,255		(987		)	420		(589		)	4,675		(1,576		)
Other international	5,230		(223		)	2,620		(446		)	7,850		(669		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	25,667		(1,593		)	35,401		(9,417		)	61,068		(11,010		)
Fixed income	83,092		(7,603		)	9,567		(12,451		)	92,659		(20,054		)
Private equity	474		(308		)	13,946		(17,291		)	14,420		(17,599		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	239,175	$	(20,358	)	$	76,673	$	(44,406	)	$	315,848	$	(64,764	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	1,736	$	(51	)	$	3,038	$	(262	)	$	4,774	$	(313	)
Canadian government	4,024		(24		)	—		—			4,024		(24		)
Corporate	15,044		(850		)	1,747		(111		)	16,791		(961		)
Residential mortgage-backed	2		(1		)	15		(1		)	17		(2		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,583		(270		)	—		—			1,583		(270		)
Common stock:
United States	123,849		(26,401		)	17,085		(4,053		)	140,934		(30,454		)
Canada	7,694		(1,260		)	366		(520		)	8,060		(1,780		)
Other international	8,654		(629		)	3,772		(907		)	12,426		(1,536		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	115,725		(11,222		)	36,398		(13,689		)	152,123		(24,911		)
Fixed income	48,950		(7,686		)	9,367		(12,552		)	58,317		(20,238		)
Private equity	466		(254		)	14,213		(15,363		)	14,679		(15,617		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	327,727	$	(48,648	)	$	86,001	$	(47,458	)	$	413,728	$	(96,106	)

Our cemetery perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses, are shown in the following tables.

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	342	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—		$	342	$	(1	)
Canadian government	4,758		(15		)	—		—			4,758		(15		)
Corporate	5,960		(57		)	68		(11		)	6,028		(68		)
Residential mortgage-backed	222		(1		)	—		—			222		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,937		(260		)	434		(144		)	3,371		(404		)
Common stock:
United States	22,965		(1,768		)	8,142		(2,256		)	31,107		(4,024		)
Canada	4,568		(1,001		)	643		(594		)	5,211		(1,595		)
Other international	9,843		(682		)	262		(17		)	10,105		(699		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	827		(28		)	2,267		(113		)	3,094		(141		)
Fixed income	84,277		(1,628		)	45,962		(2,022		)	130,239		(3,650		)
Private equity	281		(349		)	11,293		(13,385		)	11,574		(13,734		)
Other	144		(179		)	5,807		(1,763		)	5,951		(1,942		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	137,124	$	(5,969	)	$	74,878	$	(20,305	)	$	212,002	$	(26,274	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Canadian government	7,057		(43		)	—		—			7,057		(43		)
Corporate	3,854		(73		)	1,456		(61		)	5,310		(134		)
Residential mortgage-backed	58		(1		)	127		(12		)	185		(13		)
Asset-backed	51		(1		)	—		—			51		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	4,393		(1,116		)	21		(30		)	4,414		(1,146		)
Common stock:
United States	39,716		(5,459		)	9,055		(3,654		)	48,771		(9,113		)
Canada	4,402		(772		)	565		(651		)	4,967		(1,423		)
Other international	5,738		(1,226		)	104		(195		)	5,842		(1,421		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	9,852		(564		)	2,717		(15		)	12,569		(579		)
Fixed income	144,350		(5,498		)	51,301		(3,904		)	195,651		(9,402		)
Private equity	254		(324		)	10,189		(12,413		)	10,443		(12,737		)
Other	140		(181		)	5,660		(1,797		)	5,800		(1,978		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	219,865	$	(15,258	)	$	81,195	$	(22,732	)	$	301,060	$	(37,990	)

Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments [Line Items]

Investment related activities [Table Text Block]

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our cemetery perpetual care trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	6,544		$	5,789
Withdrawals	8,252			8,387
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	70,127			203,086
Sales of available-for-sale securities	52,886			267,666
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	2,162			21,241
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(2,215		)	(10,661		)

Long-term receivable and investment components [Table Text Block]

The components of Cemetery perpetual care trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	999,259	$	952,573
Cash and cash equivalents	50,822		63,933
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,050,081	$	1,016,506

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	927	$	31	$	(1	)	$	957
Canadian government	29,612		634		(15		)	30,231
Corporate	21,406		544		(68		)	21,882
Residential mortgage-backed	1,654		49		(1		)	1,702
Asset-backed	98		6		—			104
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	5,440		65		(404		)	5,101
Common stock:
United States	151,786		21,538		(4,024		)	169,300
Canada	13,853		1,666		(1,595		)	13,924
Other international	18,489		1,099		(699		)	18,889
Mutual funds:
Equity	17,795		2,534		(141		)	20,188
Fixed income	664,339		37,041		(3,650		)	697,730
Private equity	25,340		371		(13,734		)	11,977
Other	8,133		1,083		(1,942		)	7,274
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	958,872	$	66,661	$	(26,274	)	$	999,259

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	981	$	39	$	—		$	1,020
Canadian government	29,015		686		(43		)	29,658
Corporate	21,197		528		(134		)	21,591
Residential mortgage-backed	1,662		53		(13		)	1,702
Asset-backed	83		2		(1		)	84
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	6,475		18		(1,146		)	5,347
Common stock:
United States	141,880		14,443		(9,113		)	147,210
Canada	13,374		1,483		(1,423		)	13,434
Other international	16,836		1,314		(1,421		)	16,729
Mutual funds:
Equity	21,801		1,598		(579		)	22,820
Fixed income	654,883		29,758		(9,402		)	675,239
Private equity	23,212		374		(12,737		)	10,849
Other	8,018		850		(1,978		)	6,890
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	939,417	$	51,146	$	(37,990	)	$	952,573

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	920,031	$	59,977	$	19,251	$	999,259
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	875,432	$	59,402	$	17,739	$	952,573

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The change in our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	17,739		$	17,089
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	839			6,111
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(57		)	(27		)
Sales	(26		)	(44		)
Contributions	1,390			1
Distributions and other	(634		)	(2,871		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	19,251		$	20,259

Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table Text Block]

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	5,684
Due in one to five years	23,190
Due in five to ten years	24,729
Thereafter	1,273
	$	54,876

XML

Preneed Cemetery Activities Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Preneed Cemetery Receivables, Net and Trust Investments [Line Items]

Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block]

Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	43,178	$	(1,932	)	$	2,287	$	(198	)	$	45,465	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	2,489		(8		)	—		—			2,489		(8		)
Corporate	13,559		(483		)	538		(89		)	14,097		(572		)
Residential mortgage-backed	29		—			—		—			29		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,382		(198		)	66		(6		)	1,448		(204		)
Common stock:
United States	59,820		(7,023		)	11,828		(3,919		)	71,648		(10,942		)
Canada	4,255		(987		)	420		(589		)	4,675		(1,576		)
Other international	5,230		(223		)	2,620		(446		)	7,850		(669		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	25,667		(1,593		)	35,401		(9,417		)	61,068		(11,010		)
Fixed income	83,092		(7,603		)	9,567		(12,451		)	92,659		(20,054		)
Private equity	474		(308		)	13,946		(17,291		)	14,420		(17,599		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	239,175	$	(20,358	)	$	76,673	$	(44,406	)	$	315,848	$	(64,764	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	1,736	$	(51	)	$	3,038	$	(262	)	$	4,774	$	(313	)
Canadian government	4,024		(24		)	—		—			4,024		(24		)
Corporate	15,044		(850		)	1,747		(111		)	16,791		(961		)
Residential mortgage-backed	2		(1		)	15		(1		)	17		(2		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,583		(270		)	—		—			1,583		(270		)
Common stock:
United States	123,849		(26,401		)	17,085		(4,053		)	140,934		(30,454		)
Canada	7,694		(1,260		)	366		(520		)	8,060		(1,780		)
Other international	8,654		(629		)	3,772		(907		)	12,426		(1,536		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	115,725		(11,222		)	36,398		(13,689		)	152,123		(24,911		)
Fixed income	48,950		(7,686		)	9,367		(12,552		)	58,317		(20,238		)
Private equity	466		(254		)	14,213		(15,363		)	14,679		(15,617		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	327,727	$	(48,648	)	$	86,001	$	(47,458	)	$	413,728	$	(96,106	)

Our cemetery perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses, are shown in the following tables.

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	342	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—		$	342	$	(1	)
Canadian government	4,758		(15		)	—		—			4,758		(15		)
Corporate	5,960		(57		)	68		(11		)	6,028		(68		)
Residential mortgage-backed	222		(1		)	—		—			222		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,937		(260		)	434		(144		)	3,371		(404		)
Common stock:
United States	22,965		(1,768		)	8,142		(2,256		)	31,107		(4,024		)
Canada	4,568		(1,001		)	643		(594		)	5,211		(1,595		)
Other international	9,843		(682		)	262		(17		)	10,105		(699		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	827		(28		)	2,267		(113		)	3,094		(141		)
Fixed income	84,277		(1,628		)	45,962		(2,022		)	130,239		(3,650		)
Private equity	281		(349		)	11,293		(13,385		)	11,574		(13,734		)
Other	144		(179		)	5,807		(1,763		)	5,951		(1,942		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	137,124	$	(5,969	)	$	74,878	$	(20,305	)	$	212,002	$	(26,274	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Canadian government	7,057		(43		)	—		—			7,057		(43		)
Corporate	3,854		(73		)	1,456		(61		)	5,310		(134		)
Residential mortgage-backed	58		(1		)	127		(12		)	185		(13		)
Asset-backed	51		(1		)	—		—			51		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	4,393		(1,116		)	21		(30		)	4,414		(1,146		)
Common stock:
United States	39,716		(5,459		)	9,055		(3,654		)	48,771		(9,113		)
Canada	4,402		(772		)	565		(651		)	4,967		(1,423		)
Other international	5,738		(1,226		)	104		(195		)	5,842		(1,421		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	9,852		(564		)	2,717		(15		)	12,569		(579		)
Fixed income	144,350		(5,498		)	51,301		(3,904		)	195,651		(9,402		)
Private equity	254		(324		)	10,189		(12,413		)	10,443		(12,737		)
Other	140		(181		)	5,660		(1,797		)	5,800		(1,978		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	219,865	$	(15,258	)	$	81,195	$	(22,732	)	$	301,060	$	(37,990	)

Cemetery [Member]

Preneed Cemetery Receivables, Net and Trust Investments [Line Items]

Investment related activities [Table Text Block]

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	25,195		$	24,092
Withdrawals	24,733			29,944
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	270,083			133,565
Sales of available-for-sale securities	255,417			133,555
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	39,272			16,847
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(13,770		)	(5,621		)

Long-term receivable and investment components [Table Text Block]

The components of Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	1,153,699		$	1,051,464
Cash and cash equivalents	92,072			104,554
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	10			5
Trust investments	1,245,781			1,156,023
Receivables from customers	543,488			517,917
Unearned finance charges	(31,935		)	(33,766		)
	1,757,334			1,640,174
Allowance for cancellation	(44,358		)	(44,234		)
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments	$	1,712,976		$	1,595,940

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	95,800	$	6,829	$	(2,130	)	$	100,499
Canadian government	17,029		351		(8		)	17,372
Corporate	44,452		2,785		(572		)	46,665
Residential mortgage-backed	163		4		—			167
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	3,059		130		(204		)	2,985
Common stock:
United States	347,048		88,890		(10,942		)	424,996
Canada	17,819		3,451		(1,576		)	19,694
Other international	28,236		3,165		(669		)	30,732
Mutual funds:
Equity	236,441		10,592		(11,010		)	236,023
Fixed income	268,654		10,588		(20,054		)	259,188
Private equity	32,483		51		(17,599		)	14,935
Other	331		112		—			443
Trust investments	$	1,091,515	$	126,948	$	(64,764	)	$	1,153,699

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	51,022	$	6,438	$	(313	)	$	57,147
Canadian government	16,566		381		(24		)	16,923
Corporate	42,803		2,033		(961		)	43,875
Residential mortgage-backed	167		5		(2		)	170
Asset-backed	—		—		—			—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	3,365		86		(270		)	3,181
Common stock:
United States	408,075		71,138		(30,454		)	448,759
Canada	18,289		2,547		(1,780		)	19,056
Other international	30,501		1,843		(1,536		)	30,808
Mutual funds:
Equity	197,523		3,317		(24,911		)	175,929
Fixed income	248,529		11,670		(20,238		)	239,961
Private equity	30,783		53		(15,617		)	15,219
Other	306		130		—			436
Trust investments	$	1,047,929	$	99,641	$	(96,106	)	$	1,051,464

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	970,633	$	167,688	$	15,378	$	1,153,699
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	914,513	$	121,296	$	15,655	$	1,051,464

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The change in our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	15,655		$	6,251
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	(1,345		)	6,311
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(12		)	(8		)
Sales	—			—
Contributions	1,356			503
Distributions and other	(276		)	(2,393		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	15,378		$	10,664

Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table Text Block]

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	4,793
Due in one to five years	61,108
Due in five to ten years	49,640
Thereafter	49,162
	$	164,703

XML

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 958,872	$ 939,417
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	66,661	51,146
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(26,274)	(37,990)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	999,259	952,573
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	927	981
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	31	39
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	957	1,020
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	29,612	29,015
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	634	686
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(15)	(43)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	30,231	29,658
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	21,406	21,197
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	544	528
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(68)	(134)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	21,882	21,591
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	1,654	1,662
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	49	53
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)	(13)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	1,702	1,702
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	98	83
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	6	2
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	(1)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	104	84
Preferred Stock securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	5,440	6,475
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	65	18
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(404)	(1,146)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	5,101	5,347
US Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	151,786	141,880
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	21,538	14,443
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(4,024)	(9,113)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	169,300	147,210
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	13,853	13,374
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,666	1,483
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,595)	(1,423)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	13,924	13,434
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	18,489	16,836
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,099	1,314
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(699)	(1,421)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	18,889	16,729
Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	17,795	21,801
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	2,534	1,598
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(141)	(579)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	20,188	22,820
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	664,339	654,883
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	37,041	29,758
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(3,650)	(9,402)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	697,730	675,239
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	25,340	23,212
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	371	374
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(13,734)	(12,737)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	11,977	10,849
Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	8,133	8,018
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,083	850
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,942)	(1,978)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	$ 7,274	$ 6,890

XML

Preneed Funeral Activities Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments (Details) (Funeral [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	$ 253,891	$ 282,821
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(19,803)	(39,446)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	63,793	76,375
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(36,410)	(39,120)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	317,684	359,196
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(56,213)	(78,566)
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	36,336	6,977
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,930)	(90)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	7,853	8,709
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(200)	(283)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	44,189	15,686
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(2,130)	(373)
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	7,069	9,597
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(73)	(109)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	7,069	9,597
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(73)	(109)
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	13,340	17,328
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(465)	(692)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	609	662
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(112)	(78)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	13,949	17,990
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(577)	(770)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	945	600
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(4)	(4)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	295
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	(30)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	945	895
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(4)	(34)
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		0
Preferred Stock securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	778	1,244
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(102)	(153)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	90	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(9)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	868	1,244
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(111)	(153)
US Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	42,370	84,450
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(4,865)	(18,120)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	10,229	14,924
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(3,356)	(4,595)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	52,599	99,374
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(8,221)	(22,715)
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,039	8,448
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,024)	(1,491)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	973	513
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(328)	(280)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	5,012	8,961
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1,352)	(1,771)
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,702	7,263
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(177)	(615)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,837	2,403
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(361)	(681)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	6,539	9,666
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(538)	(1,296)
Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	33,514	76,559
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,774)	(9,173)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	22,122	26,053
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(7,124)	(9,809)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	55,636	102,612
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(8,898)	(18,982)
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	108,720	68,378
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(5,684)	(5,500)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	6,836	9,314
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(7,490)	(7,614)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	115,556	77,692
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(13,174)	(13,114)
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,078	1,977
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(3,705)	(3,499)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	13,244	13,502
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(17,430)	(15,750)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	15,322	15,479
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(21,135)	(19,249)
Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		$ 0

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Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus [Abstract]

Schedule of Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receitps Held in Trust Components [Table Text Block]

The components of Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below.

	March 31, 2012									December 31, 2011
	Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total			Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total
	(In thousands)									(In thousands)
Trust investments	$	1,317,105		$	1,245,781		$	2,562,886		$	1,271,446		$	1,156,023		$	2,427,469
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,936		)	(2,504		)	(4,440		)	(1,261		)	(1,852		)	(3,113		)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	$	1,315,169		$	1,243,277		$	2,558,446		$	1,270,185		$	1,154,171		$	2,424,356

Schedule of Care Trust Corpus' Components [Table Text Block]

The components of Care trusts’ corpus in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below.

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,050,081		$	1,016,506
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(2,025		)	(1,206		)
Care trusts’ corpus	$	1,048,056		$	1,015,300

Schedule of Other Nonoperating Income, by Component [Table Text Block]

The components of Other income, net in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are detailed below. See Notes 4, 5, and 6 for further discussion of the amounts related to the funeral, cemetery, and cemetery perpetual care trusts.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	26,011		$	39,272		$	2,162		$	—	$	67,445
Realized losses	(9,748		)	(13,770		)	(2,215		)	—		(25,733		)
Impairment charges	(344		)	(305		)	(1		)	—		(650		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	2,200			2,276			5,723			—		10,199
Trust expenses and income taxes	(2,569		)	(3,185		)	(385		)	—		(6,139		)
Net trust investment income	15,550			24,288			5,284			—		45,122
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(15,550		)	(24,288		)	(5,284		)	—		(45,122		)
Other income, net	—						—			3,905		3,905
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	3,905	$	3,905

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	12,877		$	16,847		$	21,241		$	—	$	50,965
Realized losses	(4,034		)	(5,621		)	(10,661		)	—		(20,316		)
Impairment charges	(3,146		)	(978		)	(297		)	—		(4,421		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	3,422			4,909			8,180			—		16,511
Trust expenses and income taxes	(1,383		)	(1,755		)	(1,596		)	—		(4,734		)
Net trust investment income	7,736			13,402			16,867			—		38,005
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(7,736		)	(13,402		)	(16,867		)	—		(38,005		)
Other income, net	—			—			—			674		674
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	674	$	674

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Debt Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block]

Debt as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
7.875% Debentures due February 2013	$	4,757		$	4,757
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014	180,692			180,692
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015	136,465			136,465
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2016	197,377			197,377
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	295,000			295,000
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	250,000			250,000
7.0% Senior Notes due May 2019	250,000			250,000
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	150,000			150,000
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	200,000			200,000
Bank credit facility due March 2016	65,000			65,000
Obligations under capital leases	156,517			124,330
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	6,334			35,937
Unamortized pricing discounts and other	(4,743		)	(4,888		)
Total debt	1,887,399			1,884,670
Less current maturities	(28,415		)	(23,554		)
Total long-term debt	$	1,858,984		$	1,861,116

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05

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Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]

Fair Value, Measurement Inputs, Disclosure [Table Text Block]

The fair value of our debt instruments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows:

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
7.875% Debentures due February 2013	$	4,757	$	4,971
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014	197,948		196,954
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015	149,429		150,083
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2016	214,647		216,375
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	331,138		323,025
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	288,750		276,875
7.0% Senior Notes due May 2019	271,250		262,500
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	173,532		167,550
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	203,250		195,750
Bank credit facility due March 2016	65,000		65,000
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	6,334		36,340
Total fair value of debt instruments	$	1,906,035	$	1,895,423

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Preneed Funeral Activities Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities (Details) (Funeral [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 936,016	$ 911,250
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	75,183	60,001
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(56,213)	(78,566)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	954,986	892,685
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	106,997	77,299
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	4,731	4,565
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(2,130)	(373)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	109,598	81,491
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	113,298	114,586
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	367	838
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(73)	(109)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	113,592	115,315
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	51,266	49,210
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	2,453	1,849
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(577)	(770)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	53,142	50,289
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	3,294	3,292
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	65	71
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(4)	(34)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	3,355	3,329
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	127	126
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	5	6
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	132	132
Preferred Stock securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	1,885	2,041
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	81	50
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(111)	(153)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	1,855	1,938
US Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	219,926	258,738
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	50,121	40,992
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(8,221)	(22,715)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	261,826	277,015
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	23,261	23,986
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	2,851	2,511
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(1,352)	(1,771)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	24,760	24,726
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	17,232	18,954
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	1,695	1,045
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(538)	(1,296)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	18,389	18,703
Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	146,494	134,383
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	7,339	2,384
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(8,898)	(18,982)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	144,935	117,785
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	215,124	193,134
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	4,849	5,044
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(13,174)	(13,114)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	206,799	185,064
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	36,605	35,017
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	214	218
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	(21,135)	(19,249)
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	15,684	15,986
Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	507	484
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Gains	412	428
Available-for-sale Securities, Gross Unrealized Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value	$ 919	$ 912

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Preneed Cemetery Activities, Textuals (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 650,000	$ 4,421,000
Cemetery [Member]
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, high end of the range	60.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, high end of the range	25.00%
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share, Unfunded Commitments	15,200,000
Investment Earnings, Net	7,500,000	6,000,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 305,000	$ 978,000

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Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	$ 262,067	$ 247,184
Total services revenues	309,369	305,507
Other revenues	31,070	27,008
Total revenues	602,506	579,699
Total cost of merchandise	127,913	123,580
Total cost of services	152,979	142,439
Overhead and other expenses	194,047	187,234
Total costs and expenses	474,939	453,253
Funeral [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	140,233	132,263
Total services revenues	259,698	256,285
Total cost of merchandise	72,227	70,015
Total cost of services	127,158	117,940
Cemetery [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	121,834	114,921
Total services revenues	49,671	49,222
Total cost of merchandise	55,686	53,565
Total cost of services	$ 25,821	$ 24,499

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations Statement (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Revenues	$ 602,506	$ 579,699
Costs and expenses	(474,939)	(453,253)
Gross profits	127,567	126,446
General and administrative expenses	(25,959)	(28,833)
(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(490)	(420)
Operating income	101,118	97,193
Interest expense	(33,588)	(33,559)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	0	(314)
Other income (expense), net	3,905	674
Income before income taxes	71,435	63,994
Provision for income taxes	(23,120)	24,065
Net income	48,315	39,929
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	290	1,165
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 48,025	$ 38,764
Basic earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders, basic	$ 0.22	$ 0.16
Basic weighted average number of shares	220,132	239,772
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$ 0.22	$ 0.16
Diluted weighted average number of shares	223,212	242,052
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05

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Preneed Funeral Activities Preneed Funeral Activities, Textuals (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 650,000	$ 4,421,000
Funeral [Member]
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, risk discount, high end of the range	60.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, low end of the range	0.00%
Fair Value, Measurement with unobservable inputs, liquidity discount, high end of the range	25.00%
Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share, Unfunded Commitments	14,500,000
Investment Earnings, Net	9,900,000	9,600,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 344,000	$ 3,146,000

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Statement (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 48,315	$ 39,929
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	0	314
Depreciation and amortization	29,541	29,331
Amortization of intangible assets	6,149	6,354
Amortization of cemetery property	9,569	9,500
Amortization of loan costs	1,194	1,184
Provision for doubtful accounts	2,842	1,933
Provision for deferred income taxes	18,479	19,379
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	490	420
Share-based compensation	2,574	2,253
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Decrease in receivables	4,771	13,494
Increase (decrease) in other assets	(5,352)	1,386
Decrease in payables and other liabilities	(7,888)	(1,454)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	15,766	15,761
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral revenue	(7,735)	(19,398)
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	(10,069)	(8,942)
Effect of cemetery production and deliveries:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	(26,238)	(9,456)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	15,948	11,750
(Increase) decrease in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	642	(5,643)
Other	(3,214)	(109)
Net cash provided by operating activities	95,784	107,986
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(23,378)	(25,138)
Acquisitions	(804)	(10,513)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment, net	264	4,697
Net withdrawals of restricted funds and other	1,176	3,567
Net cash used in investing activities	(22,742)	(27,387)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	907	0
Payments of debt	(497)	(710)
Early extinguishment of debt	0	(5,155)
Principal payments on capital leases	(6,084)	(5,639)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	2,323	3,182
Purchase of Company common stock	(75,106)	(30,245)
Payments of dividends	(11,104)	(9,605)
Bank overdrafts and other	433	4,794
Net cash used in financing activities	(89,128)	(43,378)
Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents	1,348	2,240
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(14,738)	39,461
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	128,569	170,846
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 113,831	$ 210,307

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Investments Classifed by Contractual Maturity Date (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Investments Classified By Contractual Maturity Date [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, within One Year, Fair Value	$ 5,684
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after One Through Five Years, Fair Value	23,190
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Five Through Ten Years, Fair Value	24,729
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Ten Years, Fair Value	1,273
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Total, Fair Value	$ 54,876

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Segment Reporting Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

Our reportable segment information is as follows:

	Funeral		Cemetery		Reportable Segments
	(In thousands)
Three Months ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2012	$	424,281	$	178,225	$	602,506
2011	$	408,435	$	171,264	$	579,699
Gross profits:
2012	$	100,024	$	27,543	$	127,567
2011	$	99,355	$	27,091	$	126,446

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

The following table reconciles gross profits from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Gross profits from reportable segments	$	127,567		$	126,446
General and administrative expenses	(25,959		)	(28,833		)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(490		)	(420		)
Operating income	101,118			97,193
Interest expense	(33,588		)	(33,559		)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	—			(314		)
Other income, net	3,905			674
Income before income taxes	$	71,435		$	63,994

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

Our geographic area information is as follows:

	United States		Canada		Germany		Total
			(In thousands)
Three Months ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2012	$	547,176	$	53,541	$	1,789	$	602,506
2011	$	524,896	$	52,919	$	1,884	$	579,699

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Debt Debt, Textuals (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate	6.61%		6.69%
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Percentage Rate	89.00%		89.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity	$ 500,000,000		$ 400,000,000
Letters of Credit, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			175,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding	65,000,000		65,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	32,700,000
Line of Credit Facility, Unused Capacity, Commitment Fee Percentage	0.35%
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	402,300,000
Repayments of Long-term Capital Lease Obligations	6,084,000	5,639,000
Repayments of Debt		5,200,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt	0	(314,000)
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred	38,300,000	8,800,000
February 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Debt		200,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		0.00%
April 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Debt		$ 4,700,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		6.75%

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Supplementary Information Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Supplementary Information [Abstract]

Additional Financial Information Disclosure [Text Block]

Supplementary Information

The detail of certain income statement accounts as presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations is as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Merchandise revenues:
Funeral	$	140,233	$	132,263
Cemetery	121,834		114,921
Total merchandise revenues	262,067		247,184
Services revenues:
Funeral	259,698		256,285
Cemetery	49,671		49,222
Total services revenues	309,369		305,507
Other revenues	31,070		27,008
Total revenues	$	602,506	$	579,699
Merchandise costs and expenses:
Funeral	$	72,227	$	70,015
Cemetery	55,686		53,565
Total cost of merchandise	127,913		123,580
Services costs and expenses:
Funeral	127,158		117,940
Cemetery	25,821		24,499
Total cost of services	152,979		142,439
Overhead and other expenses	194,047		187,234
Total costs and expenses	$	474,939	$	453,253

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Supplementary Information Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Supplementary Information [Abstract]

Schedule of Product Information [Table Text Block]

The detail of certain income statement accounts as presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations is as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands)
Merchandise revenues:
Funeral	$	140,233	$	132,263
Cemetery	121,834		114,921
Total merchandise revenues	262,067		247,184
Services revenues:
Funeral	259,698		256,285
Cemetery	49,671		49,222
Total services revenues	309,369		305,507
Other revenues	31,070		27,008
Total revenues	$	602,506	$	579,699
Merchandise costs and expenses:
Funeral	$	72,227	$	70,015
Cemetery	55,686		53,565
Total cost of merchandise	127,913		123,580
Services costs and expenses:
Funeral	127,158		117,940
Cemetery	25,821		24,499
Total cost of services	152,979		142,439
Overhead and other expenses	194,047		187,234
Total costs and expenses	$	474,939	$	453,253

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Earnings Per Share Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share [Text Block]

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per common share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing Net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other obligations to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common shares that then shared in our earnings.

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations is presented below:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012		2011
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income:
Net income — basic	$	48,025	$	38,764
After tax interest on convertible debt	13		13
Net income — diluted	$	48,038	$	38,777
Weighted average shares (denominator):
Weighted average shares — basic	220,132		239,772
Stock options	2,959		2,159
Convertible debt	121		121
Weighted average shares — diluted	223,212		242,052
Net income per share:
Basic	$	0.22	$	0.16
Diluted	$	0.22	$	0.16

The computation of diluted EPS excludes outstanding stock options and convertible debt in certain periods in which the inclusion of such options and debt would be anti-dilutive in the periods presented. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, total options and convertible debentures not currently included in the computation of dilutive EPS were 4.3 million and 5.6 million, respectively.

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Share-Based Compensation Share-Based Compensation, Textuals (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Stock Options [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	$ 12.1
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	1.6
Restricted Stock [Member]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	$ 9.4
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	1.6

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity Statement (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,479,948	$ 242,020	$ (985)	$ 1,603,112	$ (477,459)	$ 112,768	$ 492
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	51,437	0	0	0	38,764	11,502	1,171
Dividends declared on common stock	(11,930)	0	0	(11,930)	0	0	0
Employee share-based compensation earned	2,253	0	0	2,253	0	0	0
Stock option exercises	3,182	484	0	2,698	0	0	0
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	0	539	0	(539)	0	0	0
Purchase of Company common stock	(30,245)	0	(3,204)	(27,041)	0	0	0
Other	64	11	0	53	0	0	0
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2011	1,494,709	243,054	(4,189)	1,568,606	(438,695)	124,270	1,663
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011	1,412,195	224,666	(1,710)	1,430,330	(367,044)	105,852	20,101
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	54,060	0	0	0	48,025	5,760	275
Dividends declared on common stock	(10,960)	0	0	(10,960)	0	0	0
Employee share-based compensation earned	2,574	0	0	2,574	0	0	0
Stock option exercises	2,323	422	0	1,901	0	0	0
Restricted stock awards, net of forfeitures	0	483	0	(483)	0	0	0
Purchase of Company common stock	(75,105)	0	(6,765)	(44,780)	(23,560)	0	0
Other	8	1	0	7	0	0	0
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 1,385,095	$ 225,572	$ (8,475)	$ 1,378,589	$ (342,579)	$ 111,612	$ 20,376

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net income	$ 48,315	$ 39,929
Foreign currency translation adjustments	5,745	11,508
Comprehensive income	54,060	51,437
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(275)	(1,171)
Comprehensive income attributable to common stockholders	$ 53,785	$ 50,266

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Debt Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Debt [Abstract]

Debt Disclosure [Text Block]

Debt

Debt as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
7.875% Debentures due February 2013	$	4,757		$	4,757
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014	180,692			180,692
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015	136,465			136,465
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2016	197,377			197,377
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	295,000			295,000
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	250,000			250,000
7.0% Senior Notes due May 2019	250,000			250,000
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	150,000			150,000
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	200,000			200,000
Bank credit facility due March 2016	65,000			65,000
Obligations under capital leases	156,517			124,330
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	6,334			35,937
Unamortized pricing discounts and other	(4,743		)	(4,888		)
Total debt	1,887,399			1,884,670
Less current maturities	(28,415		)	(23,554		)
Total long-term debt	$	1,858,984		$	1,861,116

Current maturities of debt at March 31, 2012 were primarily comprised of our capital leases. Our consolidated debt had a weighted average interest rate of 6.61% at March 31, 2012 and 6.69% at December 31, 2011. Approximately 89% of our total debt had a fixed interest rate at both March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

Bank Credit Facility

As of December 31, 2010, we had a $400 million bank credit facility due March 2016 with a syndicate of financial institutions, including a sublimit of $175 million for letters of credit. In the first quarter of 2011, we amended our bank credit facility to increase the availability thereunder from $400 million to $500 million and extended the maturity to March 2016.

As of March 31, 2012, we have $65.0 million outstanding cash advances under our bank credit facility and have used it to support $32.7 million of letters of credit. The bank credit facility provides us with flexibility for working capital, if needed, and is guaranteed by a majority of our domestic subsidiaries. The subsidiary guaranty is a guaranty of payment of the outstanding amount of the total lending commitment, including letters of credit. The bank credit facility contains certain financial covenants, including a minimum interest coverage ratio, a maximum leverage ratio, and certain dividend and share repurchase restrictions. We pay a quarterly fee on the unused commitment, which was 0.35%. As of March 31, 2012, we have $402.3 million in borrowing capacity under the bank credit facility.

Debt Extinguishments and Reductions

During the three months endedMarch 31, 2012, we paid an aggregate of $6.1 million to retire capital lease obligations with no associated gain or loss recognized on early extinguishment of this debt.

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, we paid $5.2 million, to retire $0.2 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.875% Senior Notes due February 2013, and $4.7 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015. Certain of the above transactions resulted in the recognition of a loss of $0.3 million recorded in Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations.

Capital Leases

During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we acquired $38.3 million and $8.8 million, respectively, of primarily transportation equipment capital lease

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Document and Entity Information Document	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 24, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Service Corporation International
Entity Central Index Key	0000089089
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		217,098,386

XML

Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Text Block]

Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value Estimates

The fair value estimates of the following financial instruments have been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables, and trade payables approximate the fair values of those instruments due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair values of receivables on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts are impracticable to estimate because of the lack of a trading market and the diverse number of individual contracts with varying terms.

The fair value of our debt instruments at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows:

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
7.875% Debentures due February 2013	$	4,757	$	4,971
7.375% Senior Notes due October 2014	197,948		196,954
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2015	149,429		150,083
6.75% Senior Notes due April 2016	214,647		216,375
7.0% Senior Notes due June 2017	331,138		323,025
7.625% Senior Notes due October 2018	288,750		276,875
7.0% Senior Notes due May 2019	271,250		262,500
8.0% Senior Notes due November 2021	173,532		167,550
7.5% Senior Notes due April 2027	203,250		195,750
Bank credit facility due March 2016	65,000		65,000
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	6,334		36,340
Total fair value of debt instruments	$	1,906,035	$	1,895,423

The fair values of our long-term, fixed rate loans were estimated using market prices for those loans, and therefore they are classified within Level 1 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC. The bank credit agreement and the mortgage and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy. The fair values of these instruments have been estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on our incremental borrowing rate for similar borrowing arrangements. A significant increase (decrease) in the inputs results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments.

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Statement (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 113,831	$ 128,569
Receivables, net	96,376	103,892
Deferred tax assets	38,073	44,316
Inventories, net	25,438	25,513
Other	24,400	25,803
Total current assets	298,118	328,093
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	1,516,968	1,478,865
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	1,712,976	1,595,940
Cemetery property, at cost	1,496,439	1,497,703
Property and equipment, net	1,619,157	1,618,361
Goodwill	1,358,182	1,361,493
Deferred charges and other assets	423,504	430,851
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	1,050,081	1,016,506
Total assets	9,475,425	9,327,812
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	347,823	358,904
Current maturities of long-term debt	28,415	23,554
Income taxes	13,544	3,150
Total current liabilities	389,782	385,608
Long-term debt	1,858,984	1,861,116
Deferred preneed funeral revenues	566,449	575,546
Deferred preneed cemetery revenues	857,064	833,303
Deferred tax liability	414,810	405,615
Other liabilities	396,739	414,773
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	2,558,446	2,424,356
Care trusts’ corpus	1,048,056	1,015,300
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, $1 per share par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized, 225,571,921 and 224,665,395 shares issued, respectively, and 217,097,274 and 222,955,853 shares outstanding, respectively	217,097	222,956
Capital in excess of par value	1,378,589	1,430,330
Accumulated deficit	(342,579)	(367,044)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	111,612	105,852
Total common stockholders’ equity	1,364,719	1,392,094
Noncontrolling interests	20,376	20,101
Total equity	1,385,095	1,412,195
Total liabilities and equity	$ 9,475,425	$ 9,327,812

XML

Preneed Funeral Activities Level 1 (Notes) (Funeral [Member])

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Funeral [Member]

Preneed Funeral Activities Text Block

Preneed Funeral Activities

Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, related to unperformed, price-guaranteed preneed funeral contracts. Our funeral merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. Our cemetery trust investments detailed in Notes 5 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed funeral revenues into Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts after the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed funeral contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed funeral merchandise and service trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	22,178		$	17,316
Withdrawals	30,912			23,758
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	188,059			83,757
Sales of available-for-sale securities	184,902			109,707
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	26,011			12,877
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(9,748		)	(4,034		)

The components of Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	954,986		$	892,685
Cash and cash equivalents	92,970			101,111
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	269,149			277,650
Trust investments	1,317,105			1,271,446
Receivables from customers	241,685			246,601
Unearned finance charge	(5,428		)	(5,425		)
	1,553,362			1,512,622
Allowance for cancellation	(36,394		)	(33,757		)
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$	1,516,968		$	1,478,865

The cost and market values associated with our funeral merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments (including debt as well as the estimated fair value related to the contract holder’s equity in majority-owned real estate investments).

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	106,997	$	4,731	$	(2,130	)	$	109,598
Canadian government	113,298		367		(73		)	113,592
Corporate	51,266		2,453		(577		)	53,142
Residential mortgage-backed	3,294		65		(4		)	3,355
Asset-backed	127		5		—			132
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,885		81		(111		)	1,855
Common stock:
United States	219,926		50,121		(8,221		)	261,826
Canada	23,261		2,851		(1,352		)	24,760
Other international	17,232		1,695		(538		)	18,389
Mutual funds:
Equity	146,494		7,339		(8,898		)	144,935
Fixed income	215,124		4,849		(13,174		)	206,799
Private equity	36,605		214		(21,135		)	15,684
Other	507		412		—			919
Trust investments	$	936,016	$	75,183	$	(56,213	)	$	954,986

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	77,299	$	4,565	$	(373	)	$	81,491
Canadian government	114,586		838		(109		)	115,315
Corporate	49,210		1,849		(770		)	50,289
Residential mortgage-backed	3,292		71		(34		)	3,329
Asset-backed	126		6		—			132
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,041		50		(153		)	1,938
Common stock:
United States	258,738		40,992		(22,715		)	277,015
Canada	23,986		2,511		(1,771		)	24,726
Other international	18,954		1,045		(1,296		)	18,703
Mutual funds:
Equity	134,383		2,384		(18,982		)	117,785
Fixed income	193,134		5,044		(13,114		)	185,064
Private equity	35,017		218		(19,249		)	15,986
Other	484		428		—			912
Trust investments	$	911,250	$	60,001	$	(78,566	)	$	892,685

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

As of March 31, 2012, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $14.5 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.

Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock equity securities. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	656,709	$	281,674	$	16,603	$	954,986
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	623,293	$	252,494	$	16,898	$	892,685

The change in our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	16,898		$	21,359
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	(1,300		)	3,870
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(10		)	(7		)
Purchases	—			—
Sales	(9		)	(194		)
Contributions	1,278			486
Distributions and other	(254		)	(144		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	16,603		$	25,370

(1) All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

(2) All losses recognized in Other income, net for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	134,939
Due in one to five years	60,065
Due in five to ten years	50,180
Thereafter	34,635
	$	279,819

Earnings from all our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in funeral revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues. Recognized earnings (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments were $9.9 million and $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded a $0.3 million and a $3.1 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments, respectively.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our funeral merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	36,336	$	(1,930	)	$	7,853	$	(200	)	$	44,189	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	7,069		(73		)	—		—			7,069		(73		)
Corporate	13,340		(465		)	609		(112		)	13,949		(577		)
Residential mortgage-backed	945		(4		)	—		—			945		(4		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	778		(102		)	90		(9		)	868		(111		)
Common stock:
United States	42,370		(4,865		)	10,229		(3,356		)	52,599		(8,221		)
Canada	4,039		(1,024		)	973		(328		)	5,012		(1,352		)
Other international	4,702		(177		)	1,837		(361		)	6,539		(538		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	33,514		(1,774		)	22,122		(7,124		)	55,636		(8,898		)
Fixed income	108,720		(5,684		)	6,836		(7,490		)	115,556		(13,174		)
Private equity	2,078		(3,705		)	13,244		(17,430		)	15,322		(21,135		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	253,891	$	(19,803	)	$	63,793	$	(36,410	)	$	317,684	$	(56,213	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	6,977	$	(90	)	$	8,709	$	(283	)	$	15,686	$	(373	)
Canadian government	9,597		(109		)	—		—			9,597		(109		)
Corporate	17,328		(692		)	662		(78		)	17,990		(770		)
Residential mortgage-backed	600		(4		)	295		(30		)	895		(34		)
Asset-backed	—		—			—		—			—		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,244		(153		)	—		—			1,244		(153		)
Common stock:
United States	84,450		(18,120		)	14,924		(4,595		)	99,374		(22,715		)
Canada	8,448		(1,491		)	513		(280		)	8,961		(1,771		)
Other international	7,263		(615		)	2,403		(681		)	9,666		(1,296		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	76,559		(9,173		)	26,053		(9,809		)	102,612		(18,982		)
Fixed income	68,378		(5,500		)	9,314		(7,614		)	77,692		(13,114		)
Private equity	1,977		(3,499		)	13,502		(15,750		)	15,479		(19,249		)
Other	—		—			—		—			—		—
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	282,821	$	(39,446	)	$	76,375	$	(39,120	)	$	359,196	$	(78,566	)

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Recently Issued Accounting Standards Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Abstract]

Schedule of New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Table Text Block]

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Goodwill Testing

In September 2011, the FASB amended the Intangibles - Goodwill and Other Topic of the ASC that allows us to make a qualitative assessment of whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, including goodwill. If, after assessing the relevant information, we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value is more than the carrying amount, no additional analysis is necessary. If we determine it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount, then we are required to proceed to the quantitative approach. The amended guidance is effective for us in our annual test in the fourth quarter of 2012, and adoption will have no impact on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Commitments and Contingencies Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

Commitments and Contingencies

Insurance Loss Reserves

We purchase comprehensive general liability, morticians’ and cemetery professional liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation insurance coverage structured with high deductibles. The high-deductible insurance program means we are primarily self-insured for claims and associated costs and losses covered by these policies. As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, we have self-insurance reserves of $53.1 million and $52.7 million, respectively.

Litigation

We are a party to various litigation matters, investigations, and proceedings. For each of our outstanding legal matters, we evaluate the merits of the case, our exposure to the matter, possible legal or settlement strategies, and the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. We intend to vigorously defend ourselves in the lawsuits described herein; however, if we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and can be reasonably estimated, we establish the necessary accruals. We hold certain insurance policies that may reduce cash outflows with respect to an adverse outcome of certain of these litigation matters. We accrue such insurance recoveries when they become probable of being paid and can be reasonably estimated.

Burial Practices Claims. We are named as a defendant in various lawsuits alleging improper burial practices at certain of our cemetery locations. These lawsuits include but are not limited to the Garcia,Sands, Zinn and Baio lawsuits described in the following paragraphs.

Reyvis Garcia and Alicia Garcia v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., Osiris Holding of Florida, Inc., a Florida corporation, d/b/a Graceland Memorial Park South, f/k/a Paradise Memorial Gardens, Inc., was filed in December 2004, in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida, Case No. 04-25646 CA 32. Plaintiffs are the son and sister of the decedent, Eloisa Garcia, who was buried at Graceland Memorial Park South in March 1986, when the cemetery was owned by Paradise Memorial Gardens, Inc. Initially, the suit sought damages on the individual claims of the plaintiffs relating to the burial of Eloisa Garcia. Plaintiffs claimed that due to poor recordkeeping, spacing issues and maps, and the fact that the family could not afford to purchase a marker for the grave, the burial location of the decedent could not be readily located. Subsequently, the decedent’s grave was located and verified. In July 2006, plaintiffs amended their complaint, seeking to certify a class of all persons buried at this cemetery whose burial sites cannot be located, claiming that this was due to poor recordkeeping, maps, and surveys at the cemetery. Plaintiffs subsequently filed a third amended class action complaint and added two additional named plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages, as well as equitable and injunctive relief. On May 4, 2011, the trial court certified a class and we are appealing that ruling. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

F. Charles Sands, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, v. Eden Memorial Park, et al.; Case No. BC421528; in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles — Central District. This case was filed in September 2009 against SCI and certain subsidiaries regarding our Eden Memorial Park cemetery in Mission Hills, California. The plaintiff seeks to certify a class of cemetery plot owners and their families. The plaintiff seeks compensatory, consequential and punitive damages as well as the appointment of a receiver to oversee cemetery operations. The plaintiff claims the cemetery damaged and desecrated burials in order to prepare adjoining graves for subsequent burials. In February 2012, the court held a hearing on the plaintiff's motion for class certification and, so far, no order has been issued relating to that hearing. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

David Zinn and Michael Graff, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 502012CA006536MB, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County of Florida. This case was filed by counsel for plaintiffs in the preceding Sands case on April 5, 2012 regarding our Star of David Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Funeral Chapel & Bailey Memorial Gardens located in North Lauderdale, Florida. The plaintiffs seek to certify a class of cemetery plot owners and their families. The plaintiffs allege the cemetery engaged in wrongful burial operations and did not disclose them to customers. The plaintiffs seek compensatory, consequential and punitive damages as well as the appointment of a receiver to oversee cemetery operations. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

Michele Baio, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Beth David Memorial Gardens, Inc. et al.; Case No. 502012CA006532MB, in the Circuit Court of the 15^th Judicial Circuit in and for Palm Beach County of Florida. This case was filed by counsel for plaintiffs in the preceding Sands and Zinn cases on April 5, 2012 regarding the Beth David Memorial Gardens and Chapel located in Hollywood, Florida. Although we acquired the cemetery in connection with our 2006 acquisition of Alderwoods Group, Inc., we never managed the cemetery and sold it to a third party shortly after closing on the Alderwoods acquisition. The plaintiff seeks to certify a class of cemetery plot owners and their families. The plaintiff alleges the cemetery engaged in wrongful burial operations and did not disclose them to customers. The plaintiff seeks compensatory, consequential and punitive damages as well as the appointment of a receiver to oversee cemetery operations. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, for the payment of any damages.

Antitrust Claims. We are named as a defendant in an antitrust case filed in 2005. The case is Cause No 4:05-CV-03394; Funeral Consumers Alliance, Inc. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas — Houston (“Funeral Consumers Case”). This was a purported class action on behalf of casket consumers throughout the United States alleging that we and several other companies involved in the funeral industry violated federal antitrust laws and state consumer laws by engaging in various anti-competitive conduct associated with the sale of caskets. Based on the case proceeding as a class action, the plaintiffs filed an expert report indicating that the damages sought from all defendants range from approximately $950 million to $1.5 billion, before trebling. However, the trial court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the case as a class action. We deny that we engaged in anticompetitive practices related to our casket sales, and we have filed reports of our experts, which vigorously dispute the validity of the plaintiffs’ damages theories and calculations. The trial court dismissed plaintiffs’ claims on September 24, 2010, and the plaintiffs filed an appeal on October 19, 2010. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Wage and Hour Claims. We are named a defendant in various lawsuits alleging violations of federal and state laws regulating wage and hour overtime pay, including but not limited to the Prise, Bryant, Bryant, Helm, Stickle, and Southern lawsuits described in the following paragraphs.

Prise, et al., v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., and Service Corporation International; Cause No. 06-164; in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (the “Wage and Hour Lawsuit”). The Wage and Hour Lawsuit was filed by two former Alderwoods (Pennsylvania), Inc. employees in December 2006 and purports to have been brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) on behalf of all Alderwoods and SCI-affiliated employees who performed work for which they were not fully compensated, including work for which overtime pay was owed. Although the court initially conditionally certified a class of claims as to certain job positions for Alderwoods employees, the court granted our motion to decertify the class on September 9, 2011.

Plaintiffs allege causes of action for violations of the FLSA, failure to maintain proper records, breach of contract, violations of state wage and hour laws, unjust enrichment, fraud and deceit, quantum meruit, negligent misrepresentation, and negligence. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, unpaid wages, liquidated, compensatory, consequential and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs, and pre- and post-judgment interest. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Bryant, et al. v. Alderwoods Group, Inc., Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 3:07-CV-5696-SI; in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. This lawsuit was filed on November 8, 2007 against SCI and various subsidiaries and individuals. It is related to the Wage and Hour Lawsuit, raising similar claims and brought by the same attorneys. This lawsuit has been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and is now Case No. 08-CV-00891-JFC. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Bryant, et al. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. RG-07359593; and Helm, et al. v. AWGI & SCI; Case No. RG-07359602; in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda. These cases were filed on December 5, 2007 by counsel for plaintiffs in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit. These cases assert state law claims similar to the federal claims asserted in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit. These cases were removed to federal court in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco/Oakland Division. The Bryant case is now Case No. 3:08-CV-01190-SI and the Helm case is now Case No. C 08-01184-SI. On December 29, 2009, the court in the Helm case denied the plaintiffs’ motion to certify the case as a class action. The plaintiffs modified and refiled their motion for certification. On March 9, 2011, the court denied plaintiffs’ renewed motions to certify a class in both of the Bryant and Helm cases. The plaintiffs have also (i) filed additional lawsuits with similar allegations seeking class certification of state law claims in different states, and (ii) made a large number of demands for arbitration. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in these lawsuits.

Stickle, et al. v. Service Corporation International, et al.; Case No. 08-CV-83; in the U.S. District Court for Arizona, Phoenix Division. Counsel for plaintiffs in the Wage and Hour Lawsuit filed this case on January 17, 2008, against SCI and various related entities and individuals asserting FLSA and other ancillary claims based on the alleged failure to pay for overtime. In September 2009, the Court conditionally certified a class of claims as to certain job positions of SCI affiliated employees. On April 20, 2011, the court granted our motion to decertify the class. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

Southern, et al. v. SCI Kentucky Funeral Services, Inc.; Case No. 11CIO6501; in the Jefferson Circuit Court, Division Eight, Kentucky. This lawsuit was filed on October 6, 2011 against an SCI subsidiary and purports to have been brought on behalf of employees who worked in Kentucky as funeral directors. The plaintiffs allege causes of action for various violations of Kentucky wage and hour laws, and breach of contract. Plaintiffs seek unpaid wages, compensatory and exemplary relief, damages, attorneys' fees and costs, and pre- and post judgment interest. We cannot quantify our ultimate liability, if any, in this lawsuit.

The ultimate outcome of the matters described above cannot be determined at this time. We intend to vigorously defend all of the above lawsuits; however, an adverse decision in one or more of such matters could have a material effect on us, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows

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Share-Based Compensation Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]

Share-Based Compensation

Stock Benefit Plans

We utilize the Black-Scholes option valuation model for estimating the fair value of our stock options. This model uses a range of assumptions related to volatility, the risk-free interest rate, the expected life, and the dividend yield. The fair values of our stock options are calculated using the following weighted average assumptions for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

	Three Months Ended
Assumptions	March 31, 2012
Dividend yield	1.8	%
Expected volatility	40.8	%
Risk-free interest rate	0.8	%
Expected holding period (in years)	5.0

Stock Options

The following table sets forth stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012:

	Options		Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Outstanding at December 31, 2011	13,404,216		$	7.88
Granted	2,023,500		11.18
Exercised	(422,234	)	5.50
Outstanding at March 31, 2012	15,005,482		$	8.40
Exercisable at March 31, 2012	10,642,843		$	7.82

As of March 31, 2012, the unrecognized compensation expense related to stock options of $12.1 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

Restricted Shares

Restricted share activity for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was as follows:

	Restricted shares		Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Nonvested restricted shares at December 31, 2011	1,165,170		$	7.53
Granted	483,170		11.18
Vested	(520,161	)	6.05
Nonvested restricted shares at March 31, 2012	1,128,179		$	9.78

As of March 31, 2012, the unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted shares of $9.4 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

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Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus [Abstract]

Deferred Preneed Funeral And Cemetery Receipts Held In Trust And Care Trusts Corpus Text Block

Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts’ Corpus

Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust

We consolidate the merchandise and service trusts associated with our preneed funeral and cemetery activities in accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. Although the guidance requires the consolidation of the merchandise and service trusts, it does not change the legal relationships among the trusts, us, or our customers. The customers are the legal beneficiaries of these merchandise and service trusts, and therefore their interests in these trusts represent a liability to us.

The components of Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below.

	March 31, 2012									December 31, 2011
	Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total			Preneed Funeral			Preneed Cemetery			Total
	(In thousands)									(In thousands)
Trust investments	$	1,317,105		$	1,245,781		$	2,562,886		$	1,271,446		$	1,156,023		$	2,427,469
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,936		)	(2,504		)	(4,440		)	(1,261		)	(1,852		)	(3,113		)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	$	1,315,169		$	1,243,277		$	2,558,446		$	1,270,185		$	1,154,171		$	2,424,356

Care Trusts’ Corpus

The Care trusts’ corpus reflected in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet represents the cemetery perpetual care trusts, including the related accrued expenses.

The components of Care trusts’ corpus in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below.

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,050,081		$	1,016,506
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(2,025		)	(1,206		)
Care trusts’ corpus	$	1,048,056		$	1,015,300

Other Income, Net

The components of Other income, net in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are detailed below. See Notes 4, 5, and 6 for further discussion of the amounts related to the funeral, cemetery, and cemetery perpetual care trusts.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2012
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	26,011		$	39,272		$	2,162		$	—	$	67,445
Realized losses	(9,748		)	(13,770		)	(2,215		)	—		(25,733		)
Impairment charges	(344		)	(305		)	(1		)	—		(650		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	2,200			2,276			5,723			—		10,199
Trust expenses and income taxes	(2,569		)	(3,185		)	(385		)	—		(6,139		)
Net trust investment income	15,550			24,288			5,284			—		45,122
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(15,550		)	(24,288		)	(5,284		)	—		(45,122		)
Other income, net	—						—			3,905		3,905
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	3,905	$	3,905

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
	Funeral Trusts			Cemetery Trusts			Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts			Other, Net		Total
				(In thousands)
Realized gains	$	12,877		$	16,847		$	21,241		$	—	$	50,965
Realized losses	(4,034		)	(5,621		)	(10,661		)	—		(20,316		)
Impairment charges	(3,146		)	(978		)	(297		)	—		(4,421		)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	3,422			4,909			8,180			—		16,511
Trust expenses and income taxes	(1,383		)	(1,755		)	(1,596		)	—		(4,734		)
Net trust investment income	7,736			13,402			16,867			—		38,005
Reclassification to deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and care trusts’ corpus	(7,736		)	(13,402		)	(16,867		)	—		(38,005		)
Other income, net	—			—			—			674		674
Total other income, net	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	674	$	674

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	$ 137,124	$ 219,865
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(5,969)	(15,258)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	74,878	81,195
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(20,305)	(22,732)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	212,002	301,060
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(26,274)	(37,990)
US Treasury Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	342	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	342	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1)	0
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,758	7,057
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(15)	(43)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,758	7,057
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(15)	(43)
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	5,960	3,854
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(57)	(73)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	68	1,456
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(11)	(61)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	6,028	5,310
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(68)	(134)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	222	58
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1)	(1)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	127
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	(12)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	222	185
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1)	(13)
Asset-backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value		51
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		1
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		51
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		1
Preferred Stock securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,937	4,393
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(260)	(1,116)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	434	21
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(144)	(30)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,371	4,414
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(404)	(1,146)
US Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	22,965	39,716
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,768)	(5,459)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	8,142	9,055
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(2,256)	(3,654)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	31,107	48,771
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(4,024)	(9,113)
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,568	4,402
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,001)	(772)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	643	565
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(594)	(651)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	5,211	4,967
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1,595)	(1,423)
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	9,843	5,738
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(682)	(1,226)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	262	104
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(17)	(195)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	10,105	5,842
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(699)	(1,421)
Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	827	9,852
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(28)	(564)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,267	2,717
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(113)	(15)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,094	12,569
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(141)	(579)
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	84,277	144,350
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,628)	(5,498)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	45,962	51,301
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(2,022)	(3,904)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	130,239	195,651
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(3,650)	(9,402)
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	281	254
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(349)	(324)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	11,293	10,189
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(13,385)	(12,413)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	11,574	10,443
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(13,734)	(12,737)
Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	144	140
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(179)	(181)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	5,807	5,660
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(1,763)	(1,797)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	5,951	5,800
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	$ (1,942)	$ (1,978)

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Level 1 (Notes) (Cemetery [Member])

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Cemetery [Member]

Preneed Cemetery Activities Text Block

Preneed Cemetery Activities

Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments represent trust investments, including investment earnings, and customer receivables, net of unearned finance charges, for contracts sold in advance of when the property interment rights, merchandise, or services are needed. Our cemetery merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. When we receive payments from the customer, we deposit the amount required by law into the trust and reclassify the corresponding amount from Deferred preneed cemetery revenues into Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. Amounts are withdrawn from the trusts when the contract obligations are performed. Cash flows from preneed cemetery contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments are reduced by the trust investment earnings (realized and unrealized) that we have been allowed to withdraw in certain states prior to maturity. These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed cemetery merchandise and service trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	25,195		$	24,092
Withdrawals	24,733			29,944
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	270,083			133,565
Sales of available-for-sale securities	255,417			133,555
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	39,272			16,847
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(13,770		)	(5,621		)

The components of Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	1,153,699		$	1,051,464
Cash and cash equivalents	92,072			104,554
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	10			5
Trust investments	1,245,781			1,156,023
Receivables from customers	543,488			517,917
Unearned finance charges	(31,935		)	(33,766		)
	1,757,334			1,640,174
Allowance for cancellation	(44,358		)	(44,234		)
Preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments	$	1,712,976		$	1,595,940

The cost and market values associated with our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments.

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	95,800	$	6,829	$	(2,130	)	$	100,499
Canadian government	17,029		351		(8		)	17,372
Corporate	44,452		2,785		(572		)	46,665
Residential mortgage-backed	163		4		—			167
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	3,059		130		(204		)	2,985
Common stock:
United States	347,048		88,890		(10,942		)	424,996
Canada	17,819		3,451		(1,576		)	19,694
Other international	28,236		3,165		(669		)	30,732
Mutual funds:
Equity	236,441		10,592		(11,010		)	236,023
Fixed income	268,654		10,588		(20,054		)	259,188
Private equity	32,483		51		(17,599		)	14,935
Other	331		112		—			443
Trust investments	$	1,091,515	$	126,948	$	(64,764	)	$	1,153,699

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	51,022	$	6,438	$	(313	)	$	57,147
Canadian government	16,566		381		(24		)	16,923
Corporate	42,803		2,033		(961		)	43,875
Residential mortgage-backed	167		5		(2		)	170
Asset-backed	—		—		—			—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	3,365		86		(270		)	3,181
Common stock:
United States	408,075		71,138		(30,454		)	448,759
Canada	18,289		2,547		(1,780		)	19,056
Other international	30,501		1,843		(1,536		)	30,808
Mutual funds:
Equity	197,523		3,317		(24,911		)	175,929
Fixed income	248,529		11,670		(20,238		)	239,961
Private equity	30,783		53		(15,617		)	15,219
Other	306		130		—			436
Trust investments	$	1,047,929	$	99,641	$	(96,106	)	$	1,051,464

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

As of March 31, 2012, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $15.2 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.

Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	970,633	$	167,688	$	15,378	$	1,153,699
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	914,513	$	121,296	$	15,655	$	1,051,464

The change in our market-based cemetery merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	15,655		$	6,251
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	(1,345		)	6,311
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(12		)	(8		)
Sales	—			—
Contributions	1,356			503
Distributions and other	(276		)	(2,393		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	15,378		$	10,664

(1) All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

(2) All losses recognized in Other income, net for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	4,793
Due in one to five years	61,108
Due in five to ten years	49,640
Thereafter	49,162
	$	164,703

Earnings from all our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues. Recognized earnings (realized and unrealized) related to these trust investments were $7.5 million and $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded a $0.3 million and a $1.0 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments, respectively.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	43,178	$	(1,932	)	$	2,287	$	(198	)	$	45,465	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	2,489		(8		)	—		—			2,489		(8		)
Corporate	13,559		(483		)	538		(89		)	14,097		(572		)
Residential mortgage-backed	29		—			—		—			29		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,382		(198		)	66		(6		)	1,448		(204		)
Common stock:
United States	59,820		(7,023		)	11,828		(3,919		)	71,648		(10,942		)
Canada	4,255		(987		)	420		(589		)	4,675		(1,576		)
Other international	5,230		(223		)	2,620		(446		)	7,850		(669		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	25,667		(1,593		)	35,401		(9,417		)	61,068		(11,010		)
Fixed income	83,092		(7,603		)	9,567		(12,451		)	92,659		(20,054		)
Private equity	474		(308		)	13,946		(17,291		)	14,420		(17,599		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	239,175	$	(20,358	)	$	76,673	$	(44,406	)	$	315,848	$	(64,764	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	1,736	$	(51	)	$	3,038	$	(262	)	$	4,774	$	(313	)
Canadian government	4,024		(24		)	—		—			4,024		(24		)
Corporate	15,044		(850		)	1,747		(111		)	16,791		(961		)
Residential mortgage-backed	2		(1		)	15		(1		)	17		(2		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,583		(270		)	—		—			1,583		(270		)
Common stock:
United States	123,849		(26,401		)	17,085		(4,053		)	140,934		(30,454		)
Canada	7,694		(1,260		)	366		(520		)	8,060		(1,780		)
Other international	8,654		(629		)	3,772		(907		)	12,426		(1,536		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	115,725		(11,222		)	36,398		(13,689		)	152,123		(24,911		)
Fixed income	48,950		(7,686		)	9,367		(12,552		)	58,317		(20,238		)
Private equity	466		(254		)	14,213		(15,363		)	14,679		(15,617		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	327,727	$	(48,648	)	$	86,001	$	(47,458	)	$	413,728	$	(96,106	)

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 1 (Notes) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member])

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Text Block

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts

We are required by state and provincial law to pay into cemetery perpetual care trusts a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights. Our cemetery perpetual care trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The merchandise and service trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 5 are also accounted for as variable interest entities. We consolidate our cemetery perpetual care trust investments with a corresponding amount recorded as Care trusts’ corpus. Cash flows from cemetery perpetual care trusts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our cemetery perpetual care trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	6,544		$	5,789
Withdrawals	8,252			8,387
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	70,127			203,086
Sales of available-for-sale securities	52,886			267,666
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	2,162			21,241
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(2,215		)	(10,661		)

The components of Cemetery perpetual care trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012		December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	999,259	$	952,573
Cash and cash equivalents	50,822		63,933
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	1,050,081	$	1,016,506

The cost and market values associated with our cemetery perpetual care trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities or cash held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments.

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	927	$	31	$	(1	)	$	957
Canadian government	29,612		634		(15		)	30,231
Corporate	21,406		544		(68		)	21,882
Residential mortgage-backed	1,654		49		(1		)	1,702
Asset-backed	98		6		—			104
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	5,440		65		(404		)	5,101
Common stock:
United States	151,786		21,538		(4,024		)	169,300
Canada	13,853		1,666		(1,595		)	13,924
Other international	18,489		1,099		(699		)	18,889
Mutual funds:
Equity	17,795		2,534		(141		)	20,188
Fixed income	664,339		37,041		(3,650		)	697,730
Private equity	25,340		371		(13,734		)	11,977
Other	8,133		1,083		(1,942		)	7,274
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	958,872	$	66,661	$	(26,274	)	$	999,259

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	981	$	39	$	—		$	1,020
Canadian government	29,015		686		(43		)	29,658
Corporate	21,197		528		(134		)	21,591
Residential mortgage-backed	1,662		53		(13		)	1,702
Asset-backed	83		2		(1		)	84
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	6,475		18		(1,146		)	5,347
Common stock:
United States	141,880		14,443		(9,113		)	147,210
Canada	13,374		1,483		(1,423		)	13,434
Other international	16,836		1,314		(1,421		)	16,729
Mutual funds:
Equity	21,801		1,598		(579		)	22,820
Fixed income	654,883		29,758		(9,402		)	675,239
Private equity	23,212		374		(12,737		)	10,849
Other	8,018		850		(1,978		)	6,890
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	$	939,417	$	51,146	$	(37,990	)	$	952,573

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments.Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

As of March 31, 2012, our unfunded commitment for our private equity and other investments was $7.0 million which, if called, would be funded by the assets of the trusts. Our private equity and other investments include several funds that invest in limited partnerships, distressed debt, real estate, and mezzanine financing. These investments can never be redeemed by the funds. Instead, the nature of the investments in this category is that the distributions are received through the liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds. We estimate that the underlying assets will be liquidated over the next 2 to 10 years.

Our investments classified as Level 1 securities include common stock and mutual funds. Level 2 securities include U.S. Treasury, Canadian government, corporate, mortgage-backed and asset-backed fixed income securities, and preferred stock. Our private equity and other alternative investments are classified as Level 3 securities.

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	920,031	$	59,977	$	19,251	$	999,259
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	875,432	$	59,402	$	17,739	$	952,573

The change in our market-based cemetery perpetual care trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	17,739		$	17,089
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	839			6,111
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(57		)	(27		)
Sales	(26		)	(44		)
Contributions	1,390			1
Distributions and other	(634		)	(2,871		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	19,251		$	20,259

(1) All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

(2) All gains (losses) recognized in Other income, net for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	5,684
Due in one to five years	23,190
Due in five to ten years	24,729
Thereafter	1,273
	$	54,876

Distributable earnings from these cemetery perpetual care trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues to the extent we incur qualifying cemetery maintenance costs. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. Recognized earnings related to these trust investments were $9.0 million and $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Cemetery perpetual care trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, we recorded a $0.0 million and a $0.3 million impairment charge for other-than-temporary declines in fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments, respectively.

We have determined that the remaining unrealized losses in our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are considered temporary in nature, as the unrealized losses were due to temporary fluctuations in interest rates and equity prices. The investments are diversified across multiple industry segments using a balanced allocation strategy to minimize long-term risk. We believe that none of the securities are other-than-temporarily impaired based on our analysis of the investments. Our analysis included a review of the portfolio holdings, and discussions with the individual money managers as to the sector exposures, credit ratings, and the severity and duration of the unrealized losses. Our cemetery perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses, are shown in the following tables.

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	342	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—		$	342	$	(1	)
Canadian government	4,758		(15		)	—		—			4,758		(15		)
Corporate	5,960		(57		)	68		(11		)	6,028		(68		)
Residential mortgage-backed	222		(1		)	—		—			222		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,937		(260		)	434		(144		)	3,371		(404		)
Common stock:
United States	22,965		(1,768		)	8,142		(2,256		)	31,107		(4,024		)
Canada	4,568		(1,001		)	643		(594		)	5,211		(1,595		)
Other international	9,843		(682		)	262		(17		)	10,105		(699		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	827		(28		)	2,267		(113		)	3,094		(141		)
Fixed income	84,277		(1,628		)	45,962		(2,022		)	130,239		(3,650		)
Private equity	281		(349		)	11,293		(13,385		)	11,574		(13,734		)
Other	144		(179		)	5,807		(1,763		)	5,951		(1,942		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	137,124	$	(5,969	)	$	74,878	$	(20,305	)	$	212,002	$	(26,274	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Canadian government	7,057		(43		)	—		—			7,057		(43		)
Corporate	3,854		(73		)	1,456		(61		)	5,310		(134		)
Residential mortgage-backed	58		(1		)	127		(12		)	185		(13		)
Asset-backed	51		(1		)	—		—			51		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	4,393		(1,116		)	21		(30		)	4,414		(1,146		)
Common stock:
United States	39,716		(5,459		)	9,055		(3,654		)	48,771		(9,113		)
Canada	4,402		(772		)	565		(651		)	4,967		(1,423		)
Other international	5,738		(1,226		)	104		(195		)	5,842		(1,421		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	9,852		(564		)	2,717		(15		)	12,569		(579		)
Fixed income	144,350		(5,498		)	51,301		(3,904		)	195,651		(9,402		)
Private equity	254		(324		)	10,189		(12,413		)	10,443		(12,737		)
Other	140		(181		)	5,660		(1,797		)	5,800		(1,978		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	219,865	$	(15,258	)	$	81,195	$	(22,732	)	$	301,060	$	(37,990	)

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Income Taxes Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]

Income Taxes

Income tax expense during interim periods is based on our estimated annual effective income tax rate plus any discrete items which are recorded in the period in which they occur. Discrete items include, among others, such events as changes in estimates due to the finalization of tax returns, tax audit settlements, expiration of statute of limitations, and increases or decreases in valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. Our effective tax rate was 32.4% and 37.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The effective tax rate of 32.4% for the first quarter of 2012 was below the 35% federal statutory tax rate due to the benefits associated with the settlement of a tax audit discussed below and foreign jurisdictions taxed at different rates, which is partially offset by state tax expense.

Internal Revenue Service Settlement

Our affiliate SCI Funeral and Cemetery Purchasing Cooperative ("COOP"), is a corporation taxed under subchapter T of the United States Internal Revenue code, the operation of which has resulted in the deferral of tax payments. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), in connection with its audits of the COOP's 2003 - 2005 federal income tax returns, proposed adjustments that would accelerate amounts that the Company had previously deferred and would result in the payment of interest on those deferred amounts. We reached a settlement with the IRS on March 28, 2012 and as a result the Company will make a one-time payment of approximately $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2012. Our tax expense for the first quarter was reduced by approximately $3.3 million for adjustments to our "unrecognized tax benefits" – that is, the aggregate tax effect of differences between tax return positions and the benefits recognized in our financial statements, and other tax matters.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

We had previously recorded an unrecognized tax benefit and accrued interest for the exposure pertaining to the IRS audit settlement described above. As of March 31, 2012, the gross amount of our unrecognized tax benefits was $146.7 million and the gross amount of our accrued interest was $39.2 million. During the first quarter, our unrecognized tax benefit and gross accrued interest decreased by $9.6 million and $2.6 million respectively, due primarily to the IRS audit settlement.

A number of years may elapse before particular tax matters, for which we have unrecognized tax benefits, are audited and finally settled. While we have effectively settled our 2003 - 2005 tax years with respect to our affiliate the COOP, SCI and Subsidiaries' tax years 2003 - 2005 remain under review at the IRS Appeals level and SCI and Subsidiaries' tax years 1999 - 2002 remain under review at the IRS Examination level. Various state and foreign jurisdictions are auditing years through 2009. The outcome of each of these audits cannot be predicted at this time. It is reasonably possible that the amount of our unrecognized tax benefits could significantly increase or decrease over the next twelve months either because we prevail on positions or because the tax authorities prevail. Due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of completion of audits and possible outcomes, a current estimate of the range of increases or decreases that may occur within the next twelve months cannot be made.

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Debt Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Bank credit facility due March 2016	$ 65,000	$ 65,000
Total debt	1,887,399	1,884,670
Less current maturities	(28,415)	(23,554)
Total long-term debt	1,858,984	1,861,116
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized pricing discounts and other	(4,743)	(4,888)
Unsecured Debt [Member] | February 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	4,757	4,757
Unsecured Debt [Member] | October 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	180,692	180,692
Unsecured Debt [Member] | April 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	136,465	136,465
Unsecured Debt [Member] | April 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	197,377	197,377
Unsecured Debt [Member] | June 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	295,000	295,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] | October 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	250,000	250,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] | May 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	250,000	250,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] | November 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	150,000	150,000
Unsecured Debt [Member] | April 2027 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	200,000	200,000
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Obligations under capital leases	156,517	124,330
Mortgages [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	$ 6,334	$ 35,937

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Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Bank credit facility due March 2016	$ 65,000	$ 65,000
Mortgage notes and other debt, maturities through 2047	6,334	36,340
Total fair value of debt instruments	1,906,035	1,895,423
February 2013 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	4,757	4,971
October 2014 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	197,948	196,954
April 2015 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	149,429	150,083
April 2016 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	214,647	216,375
June 2017 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	331,138	323,025
October 2018 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	288,750	276,875
May 2019 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	271,250	262,500
November 2021 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	173,532	167,550
April 2027 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 203,250	$ 195,750

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Income Taxes Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations	32.40%	37.60%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate	35.00%
Income Tax Examination, Liability (Refund) Adjustment from Settlement with Taxing Authority	$ 6.3
Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes	3.3
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	146.7
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	39.2
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Period Increase (Decrease)	9.6
Unrecognized tax benefits, reduction of accrued interest	$ 2.6

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Equity Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]

Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:

	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment		Unrealized Gains and Losses			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
			(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	105,852	$	—		$	105,852
Activity in 2012	5,760		—			5,760
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—		78,178			78,178
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	—		(78,178		)	(78,178		)
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	111,612	$	—		$	111,612

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date (Details) (Cemetery [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012
Cemetery [Member]
Investments Classified By Contractual Maturity Date [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, within One Year, Fair Value	$ 4,793
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after One Through Five Years, Fair Value	61,108
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Five Through Ten Years, Fair Value	49,640
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, after Ten Years, Fair Value	49,162
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Total, Fair Value	$ 164,703

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Segment Reporting Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block]

Segment Reporting

Our operations are both product based and geographically based, and the reportable operating segments presented below include our funeral and cemetery operations. Our geographic areas include United States, Canada, and Germany. We conduct both funeral and cemetery operations in the United States and Canada and funeral operations in Germany.

Our reportable segment information is as follows:

	Funeral		Cemetery		Reportable Segments
	(In thousands)
Three Months ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2012	$	424,281	$	178,225	$	602,506
2011	$	408,435	$	171,264	$	579,699
Gross profits:
2012	$	100,024	$	27,543	$	127,567
2011	$	99,355	$	27,091	$	126,446

The following table reconciles gross profits from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Gross profits from reportable segments	$	127,567		$	126,446
General and administrative expenses	(25,959		)	(28,833		)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(490		)	(420		)
Operating income	101,118			97,193
Interest expense	(33,588		)	(33,559		)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	—			(314		)
Other income, net	3,905			674
Income before income taxes	$	71,435		$	63,994

Our geographic area information is as follows:

	United States		Canada		Germany		Total
			(In thousands)
Three Months ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2012	$	547,176	$	53,541	$	1,789	$	602,506
2011	$	524,896	$	52,919	$	1,884	$	579,699

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Level 2 (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

The computation of diluted EPS excludes outstanding stock options and convertible debt in certain periods in which the inclusion of such options and debt would be anti-dilutive in the periods presented.

Basic earnings per common share (EPS) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing Net income attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other obligations to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common shares that then shared in our earnings.

Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Our operations are both product based and geographically based, and the reportable operating segments presented below include our funeral and cemetery operations.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

We utilize the Black-Scholes option valuation model for estimating the fair value of our stock options.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings from all our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in funeral revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues

Earnings from all our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned. In addition, we are entitled to retain, in certain jurisdictions, a portion of collected customer payments when a customer cancels a preneed contract; these amounts are also recognized in current revenues.

Distributable earnings from these cemetery perpetual care trust investments are recognized in current cemetery revenues to the extent we incur qualifying cemetery maintenance costs. Fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are also included in current revenues in the period in which they are earned.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities held by the common trust funds and mutual funds are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using either quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics or an income approach fair value model with observable inputs that include a combination of interest rates, yield curves, credit risks, prepayment speeds, rating, and tax-exempt status. These funds are classified as Level 2 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The valuation of private equity and other alternative investments requires management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity, and the long-term nature of such assets. The fair value of these investments is estimated based on the market value of the underlying real estate and private equity investments. The underlying real estate value is determined using the most recent available appraisals. As of March 31, 2012, private equity instruments are valued based on reported net asset values discounted by 0% to 60% for risk and 0% to 25% for liquidity. A significant increase (decrease) in the discounts results in a directionally opposite change in the fair value of the instruments.Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our Treasury department, which reports to our Chief Financial Officer.  Additionally, valuations are reviewed by our audit committee quarterly. These funds are classified as Level 3 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC.

The fair values of our long-term, fixed rate loans were estimated using market prices for those loans, and therefore they are classified within Level 1 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy as required by the FVM&D Topic of the ASC. The bank credit agreement and the mortgage and other debt are classified within Level 3 of the Fair Value Measurements hierarchy. The fair values of these instruments have been estimated using discounted cash flow analysis based on our incremental borrowing rate for similar borrowing arrangements.

Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Our funeral merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. Our cemetery trust investments detailed in Notes 5 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities.

Our cemetery merchandise and service trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 6 are also accounted for as variable interest entities.

Our cemetery perpetual care trusts are variable interest entities as defined in the Consolidation Topic of the ASC. In accordance with this guidance, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary of these trusts, as we absorb a majority of the losses and returns associated with these trusts. The merchandise and service trust investments detailed in Notes 4 and 5 are also accounted for as variable interest entities.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International (SCI) and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Our financial statements also include the accounts of the funeral merchandise and service trusts, cemetery merchandise and service trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and any other adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair statement of our results for these periods. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. The accompanying year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year period.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows.

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International (SCI) and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Our financial statements also include the accounts of the funeral merchandise and service trusts, cemetery merchandise and service trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and any other adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair statement of our results for these periods. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. The accompanying year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year period.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. These estimates and assumptions may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receivables

We sell preneed funeral and cemetery contracts whereby the customer enters into arrangements for future merchandise and services prior to the time of need. As these contracts are prior to the delivery of the related goods and services, the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by a comparable deferred revenue amount. These receivables have an interest component for which interest income is recorded when the interest amount is considered collectible and realizable, which typically coincides with cash payment. We do not accrue interest on financing receivables that are not paid in accordance with the contractual payment date given the nature of our goods and services, the nature of our contracts with customers, and the timing of the delivery of our services. We do not consider receivables to be past due until the service or goods are required to be delivered at which time the preneed receivable is paid or reclassified as a trade receivable with payment terms of less than 30 days. As the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by comparable deferred revenue amounts, we have no risk of loss related to these receivables.

If a preneed contract is cancelled prior to delivery, state or provincial law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, if any, including the amount of the attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, we receive the amount of principal deposited to the trust and previously undistributed net investment earnings and, where required, issue a refund to the customer. We retain excess funds, if any, and recognize the attributed investment earnings (net of any investment earnings payable to the customer) as revenue in the consolidated statement of operations. In certain jurisdictions, we may be obligated to fund any shortfall if the amount deposited by the customers exceed the funds in trust. Based on our historical experience, we have provided an allowance for cancellation of these receivables, which is recorded as a reduction in receivables with a corresponding offset to deferred revenue.

Fair Value Measurements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure (FVM&D) Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to expand disclosures about items marked to fair value that are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy to include qualitative explanations of the valuation methodology used and sensitivity analysis of the inputs into the valuation. The amendment also requires that items that are not measured at fair value but for which the fair value is disclosed also disclose the level in the fair value hierarchy in which those items were categorized. We adopted the amended guidance in the first quarter of 2012 and the appropriate disclosures are contained in Notes 4, 5, and 6.

Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB amended the Comprehensive Income Topic of the ASC to require the disclosure of the components of other comprehensive income, which we previously disclosed elsewhere in our filings, be shown as either part of one statement of comprehensive income or as a separate statement of comprehensive income immediately following the income statement. We adopted the amended guidance in the first quarter of 2012 and a separate Statement of Comprehensive Income is included herein.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. These estimates and assumptions may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Finance, Loans and Leases Receivable, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receivables

We sell preneed funeral and cemetery contracts whereby the customer enters into arrangements for future merchandise and services prior to the time of need. As these contracts are prior to the delivery of the related goods and services, the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by a comparable deferred revenue amount. These receivables have an interest component for which interest income is recorded when the interest amount is considered collectible and realizable, which typically coincides with cash payment. We do not accrue interest on financing receivables that are not paid in accordance with the contractual payment date given the nature of our goods and services, the nature of our contracts with customers, and the timing of the delivery of our services. We do not consider receivables to be past due until the service or goods are required to be delivered at which time the preneed receivable is paid or reclassified as a trade receivable with payment terms of less than 30 days. As the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by comparable deferred revenue amounts, we have no risk of loss related to these receivables.

If a preneed contract is cancelled prior to delivery, state or provincial law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, if any, including the amount of the attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, we receive the amount of principal deposited to the trust and previously undistributed net investment earnings and, where required, issue a refund to the customer. We retain excess funds, if any, and recognize the attributed investment earnings (net of any investment earnings payable to the customer) as revenue in the consolidated statement of operations. In certain jurisdictions, we may be obligated to fund any shortfall if the amount deposited by the customers exceed the funds in trust. Based on our historical experience, we have provided an allowance for cancellation of these receivables, which is recorded as a reduction in receivables with a corresponding offset to deferred revenue.

Funeral and Cemetery cash flow [Policy Text Block]

Cash flows from preneed funeral contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Cash flows from preneed cemetery contracts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Cash flows from cemetery perpetual care trusts are presented as operating cash flows in our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Revenue Recognition, Deferred Revenue [Policy Text Block]

These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed funeral revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.

These earnings are recorded in Deferred preneed cemetery revenues until the service is performed or the merchandise is delivered.

Marketable Securities, Available-for-sale Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust

We assess our trust investments for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. Impairment charges resulting from this assessment are recognized as investment losses in Other income, net and a decrease to Cemetery perpetual care trust investments. These investment losses, if any, are offset by the corresponding reclassification in Other income, net, which reduces Care trusts’ corpus.

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Preneed Cemetery Activities Fair Value Hierarchy (Details) (Cemetery [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	$ 1,153,699	$ 1,051,464
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	970,633	914,513
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	167,688	121,296
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	$ 15,378	$ 15,655

XML

Preneed Funeral Activities Fair Value Hierarchy (Details) (Funeral [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	$ 954,986	$ 892,685
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	656,709	623,293
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	281,674	252,494
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trust investments, at market	$ 16,603	$ 16,898

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Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Common stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	225,571,921	224,665,395
Common stock, shares outstanding	217,097,274	222,955,853

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Service Corporation International (SCI) and all subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling financial interest. Our financial statements also include the accounts of the funeral merchandise and service trusts, cemetery merchandise and service trusts, and cemetery perpetual care trusts in which we have a variable interest and are the primary beneficiary. Our interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals and any other adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair statement of our results for these periods. Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. The accompanying year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year period.

Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. These estimates and assumptions may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. As a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receivables

We sell preneed funeral and cemetery contracts whereby the customer enters into arrangements for future merchandise and services prior to the time of need. As these contracts are prior to the delivery of the related goods and services, the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by a comparable deferred revenue amount. These receivables have an interest component for which interest income is recorded when the interest amount is considered collectible and realizable, which typically coincides with cash payment. We do not accrue interest on financing receivables that are not paid in accordance with the contractual payment date given the nature of our goods and services, the nature of our contracts with customers, and the timing of the delivery of our services. We do not consider receivables to be past due until the service or goods are required to be delivered at which time the preneed receivable is paid or reclassified as a trade receivable with payment terms of less than 30 days. As the preneed funeral and cemetery receivables are offset by comparable deferred revenue amounts, we have no risk of loss related to these receivables.

If a preneed contract is cancelled prior to delivery, state or provincial law determines the amount of the refund owed to the customer, if any, including the amount of the attributed investment earnings. Upon cancellation, we receive the amount of principal deposited to the trust and previously undistributed net investment earnings and, where required, issue a refund to the customer. We retain excess funds, if any, and recognize the attributed investment earnings (net of any investment earnings payable to the customer) as revenue in the consolidated statement of operations. In certain jurisdictions, we may be obligated to fund any shortfall if the amount deposited by the customers exceed the funds in trust. Based on our historical experience, we have provided an allowance for cancellation of these receivables, which is recorded as a reduction in receivables with a corresponding offset to deferred revenue.

Fair Value Measurements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure (FVM&D) Topic of the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) to expand disclosures about items marked to fair value that are categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy to include qualitative explanations of the valuation methodology used and sensitivity analysis of the inputs into the valuation. The amendment also requires that items that are not measured at fair value but for which the fair value is disclosed also disclose the level in the fair value hierarchy in which those items were categorized. We adopted the amended guidance in the first quarter of 2012 and the appropriate disclosures are contained in Notes 4, 5, and 6.

Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB amended the Comprehensive Income Topic of the ASC to require the disclosure of the components of other comprehensive income, which we previously disclosed elsewhere in our filings, be shown as either part of one statement of comprehensive income or as a separate statement of comprehensive income immediately following the income statement. We adopted the amended guidance in the first quarter of 2012 and a separate Statement of Comprehensive Income is included herein.

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Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 Activities (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 17,739		$ 17,089
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	839	[1]	6,111	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(57)	[2]	(27)	[2]
Sales	(26)		(44)
Contributions	1,390		1
Distributions and other	(634)		(2,871)
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 19,251		$ 20,259

[1] All unrealized (losses) gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

[2] All gains (losses) recognized in Other income, net for our cemetery perpetual care trust investments are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Care trusts’ corpus. See Note 7 for further information related to our Care trusts’ corpus.

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Equity Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 105,852
Activity in 2012	54,060	51,437
Balance at end of period	111,612
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	105,852
Activity in 2012	5,760	11,502
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	78,178
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	(78,178)
Balance at end of period	111,612
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	105,852
Activity in 2012	5,760
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	0
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	0
Balance at end of period	111,612
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0
Activity in 2012	0
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	78,178
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	(78,178)
Balance at end of period	$ 0

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Preneed Funeral Activities Level 3 (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Preneed funeral receivables net and trust investments [Line Items]

Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block]

Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	43,178	$	(1,932	)	$	2,287	$	(198	)	$	45,465	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	2,489		(8		)	—		—			2,489		(8		)
Corporate	13,559		(483		)	538		(89		)	14,097		(572		)
Residential mortgage-backed	29		—			—		—			29		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,382		(198		)	66		(6		)	1,448		(204		)
Common stock:
United States	59,820		(7,023		)	11,828		(3,919		)	71,648		(10,942		)
Canada	4,255		(987		)	420		(589		)	4,675		(1,576		)
Other international	5,230		(223		)	2,620		(446		)	7,850		(669		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	25,667		(1,593		)	35,401		(9,417		)	61,068		(11,010		)
Fixed income	83,092		(7,603		)	9,567		(12,451		)	92,659		(20,054		)
Private equity	474		(308		)	13,946		(17,291		)	14,420		(17,599		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	239,175	$	(20,358	)	$	76,673	$	(44,406	)	$	315,848	$	(64,764	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	1,736	$	(51	)	$	3,038	$	(262	)	$	4,774	$	(313	)
Canadian government	4,024		(24		)	—		—			4,024		(24		)
Corporate	15,044		(850		)	1,747		(111		)	16,791		(961		)
Residential mortgage-backed	2		(1		)	15		(1		)	17		(2		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,583		(270		)	—		—			1,583		(270		)
Common stock:
United States	123,849		(26,401		)	17,085		(4,053		)	140,934		(30,454		)
Canada	7,694		(1,260		)	366		(520		)	8,060		(1,780		)
Other international	8,654		(629		)	3,772		(907		)	12,426		(1,536		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	115,725		(11,222		)	36,398		(13,689		)	152,123		(24,911		)
Fixed income	48,950		(7,686		)	9,367		(12,552		)	58,317		(20,238		)
Private equity	466		(254		)	14,213		(15,363		)	14,679		(15,617		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	327,727	$	(48,648	)	$	86,001	$	(47,458	)	$	413,728	$	(96,106	)

Our cemetery perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values and the duration of unrealized losses, are shown in the following tables.

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	342	$	(1	)	$	—	$	—		$	342	$	(1	)
Canadian government	4,758		(15		)	—		—			4,758		(15		)
Corporate	5,960		(57		)	68		(11		)	6,028		(68		)
Residential mortgage-backed	222		(1		)	—		—			222		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,937		(260		)	434		(144		)	3,371		(404		)
Common stock:
United States	22,965		(1,768		)	8,142		(2,256		)	31,107		(4,024		)
Canada	4,568		(1,001		)	643		(594		)	5,211		(1,595		)
Other international	9,843		(682		)	262		(17		)	10,105		(699		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	827		(28		)	2,267		(113		)	3,094		(141		)
Fixed income	84,277		(1,628		)	45,962		(2,022		)	130,239		(3,650		)
Private equity	281		(349		)	11,293		(13,385		)	11,574		(13,734		)
Other	144		(179		)	5,807		(1,763		)	5,951		(1,942		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	137,124	$	(5,969	)	$	74,878	$	(20,305	)	$	212,002	$	(26,274	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—
Canadian government	7,057		(43		)	—		—			7,057		(43		)
Corporate	3,854		(73		)	1,456		(61		)	5,310		(134		)
Residential mortgage-backed	58		(1		)	127		(12		)	185		(13		)
Asset-backed	51		(1		)	—		—			51		(1		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	4,393		(1,116		)	21		(30		)	4,414		(1,146		)
Common stock:
United States	39,716		(5,459		)	9,055		(3,654		)	48,771		(9,113		)
Canada	4,402		(772		)	565		(651		)	4,967		(1,423		)
Other international	5,738		(1,226		)	104		(195		)	5,842		(1,421		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	9,852		(564		)	2,717		(15		)	12,569		(579		)
Fixed income	144,350		(5,498		)	51,301		(3,904		)	195,651		(9,402		)
Private equity	254		(324		)	10,189		(12,413		)	10,443		(12,737		)
Other	140		(181		)	5,660		(1,797		)	5,800		(1,978		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	219,865	$	(15,258	)	$	81,195	$	(22,732	)	$	301,060	$	(37,990	)

Funeral [Member]

Preneed funeral receivables net and trust investments [Line Items]

Investment related activities [Table Text Block]

The table below sets forth certain investment-related activities associated with our preneed funeral merchandise and service trusts:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
	(In thousands)
Deposits	$	22,178		$	17,316
Withdrawals	30,912			23,758
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	188,059			83,757
Sales of available-for-sale securities	184,902			109,707
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	26,011			12,877
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(9,748		)	(4,034		)

Long-term receivable and investment components [Table Text Block]

The components of Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows:

	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
	(In thousands)
Trust investments, at market	$	954,986		$	892,685
Cash and cash equivalents	92,970			101,111
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	269,149			277,650
Trust investments	1,317,105			1,271,446
Receivables from customers	241,685			246,601
Unearned finance charge	(5,428		)	(5,425		)
	1,553,362			1,512,622
Allowance for cancellation	(36,394		)	(33,757		)
Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$	1,516,968		$	1,478,865

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The cost and market values associated with our funeral merchandise and service trust investments recorded at fair market value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are detailed below. Cost reflects the investment (net of redemptions) of control holders in common trust funds, mutual funds, and private equity investments. Fair market value represents the value of the underlying securities held by the common trust funds, mutual funds at published values, and the estimated market value of private equity investments (including debt as well as the estimated fair value related to the contract holder’s equity in majority-owned real estate investments).

	March 31, 2012
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	106,997	$	4,731	$	(2,130	)	$	109,598
Canadian government	113,298		367		(73		)	113,592
Corporate	51,266		2,453		(577		)	53,142
Residential mortgage-backed	3,294		65		(4		)	3,355
Asset-backed	127		5		—			132
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,885		81		(111		)	1,855
Common stock:
United States	219,926		50,121		(8,221		)	261,826
Canada	23,261		2,851		(1,352		)	24,760
Other international	17,232		1,695		(538		)	18,389
Mutual funds:
Equity	146,494		7,339		(8,898		)	144,935
Fixed income	215,124		4,849		(13,174		)	206,799
Private equity	36,605		214		(21,135		)	15,684
Other	507		412		—			919
Trust investments	$	936,016	$	75,183	$	(56,213	)	$	954,986

	December 31, 2011
	Cost		Unrealized Gains		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	77,299	$	4,565	$	(373	)	$	81,491
Canadian government	114,586		838		(109		)	115,315
Corporate	49,210		1,849		(770		)	50,289
Residential mortgage-backed	3,292		71		(34		)	3,329
Asset-backed	126		6		—			132
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	2,041		50		(153		)	1,938
Common stock:
United States	258,738		40,992		(22,715		)	277,015
Canada	23,986		2,511		(1,771		)	24,726
Other international	18,954		1,045		(1,296		)	18,703
Mutual funds:
Equity	134,383		2,384		(18,982		)	117,785
Fixed income	193,134		5,044		(13,114		)	185,064
Private equity	35,017		218		(19,249		)	15,986
Other	484		428		—			912
Trust investments	$	911,250	$	60,001	$	(78,566	)	$	892,685

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block]

The inputs into the fair value of our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments are categorized as follows:

	Quoted Market Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Market Value
			(In thousands)
Trust investments at March 31, 2012	$	656,709	$	281,674	$	16,603	$	954,986
Trust investments at December 31, 2011	$	623,293	$	252,494	$	16,898	$	892,685

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

The change in our market-based funeral merchandise and service trust investments with significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2012			2011
Fair market value, beginning balance	$	16,898		$	21,359
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	(1,300		)	3,870
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(10		)	(7		)
Purchases	—			—
Sales	(9		)	(194		)
Contributions	1,278			486
Distributions and other	(254		)	(144		)
Fair market value, ending balance	$	16,603		$	25,370

Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date [Table Text Block]

Maturity dates of our fixed income securities range from 2012 to 2042. Maturities of fixed income securities, excluding mutual funds, at March 31, 2012 are estimated as follows:

	Fair Market Value
	(In thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	134,939
Due in one to five years	60,065
Due in five to ten years	50,180
Thereafter	34,635
	$	279,819

Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments [Table Text Block]

Our funeral merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, are shown in the following tables:

	March 31, 2012
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	36,336	$	(1,930	)	$	7,853	$	(200	)	$	44,189	$	(2,130	)
Canadian government	7,069		(73		)	—		—			7,069		(73		)
Corporate	13,340		(465		)	609		(112		)	13,949		(577		)
Residential mortgage-backed	945		(4		)	—		—			945		(4		)
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	778		(102		)	90		(9		)	868		(111		)
Common stock:
United States	42,370		(4,865		)	10,229		(3,356		)	52,599		(8,221		)
Canada	4,039		(1,024		)	973		(328		)	5,012		(1,352		)
Other international	4,702		(177		)	1,837		(361		)	6,539		(538		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	33,514		(1,774		)	22,122		(7,124		)	55,636		(8,898		)
Fixed income	108,720		(5,684		)	6,836		(7,490		)	115,556		(13,174		)
Private equity	2,078		(3,705		)	13,244		(17,430		)	15,322		(21,135		)
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	253,891	$	(19,803	)	$	63,793	$	(36,410	)	$	317,684	$	(56,213	)

	December 31, 2011
	In Loss Position Less Than 12 Months					In Loss Position Greater Than 12 Months					Total
	Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses			Fair Market Value		Unrealized Losses
						(In thousands)
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Treasury	$	6,977	$	(90	)	$	8,709	$	(283	)	$	15,686	$	(373	)
Canadian government	9,597		(109		)	—		—			9,597		(109		)
Corporate	17,328		(692		)	662		(78		)	17,990		(770		)
Residential mortgage-backed	600		(4		)	295		(30		)	895		(34		)
Asset-backed	—		—			—		—			—		—
Equity securities:
Preferred stock	1,244		(153		)	—		—			1,244		(153		)
Common stock:
United States	84,450		(18,120		)	14,924		(4,595		)	99,374		(22,715		)
Canada	8,448		(1,491		)	513		(280		)	8,961		(1,771		)
Other international	7,263		(615		)	2,403		(681		)	9,666		(1,296		)
Mutual funds:
Equity	76,559		(9,173		)	26,053		(9,809		)	102,612		(18,982		)
Fixed income	68,378		(5,500		)	9,314		(7,614		)	77,692		(13,114		)
Private equity	1,977		(3,499		)	13,502		(15,750		)	15,479		(19,249		)
Other	—		—			—		—			—		—
Total temporarily impaired securities	$	282,821	$	(39,446	)	$	76,375	$	(39,120	)	$	359,196	$	(78,566	)

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Earnings Per Share Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 48,025	$ 38,764
After tax interest on convertible debt	13	13
Net income — diluted	$ 48,038	$ 38,777
Weighted average shares — basic	(220,132)	(239,772)
Stock options	2,959	2,159
Convertible debt	121	121
Weighted average shares — diluted	223,212	242,052
Net income attributable to common stockholders, basic	$ 0.22	$ 0.16
Net income attributable to common stockholders, diluted	$ 0.22	$ 0.16

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Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 67,445	$ 50,965
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(25,733)	(20,316)
Funeral [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	22,178	17,316
Withdrawals	30,912	23,758
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	188,059	83,757
Sales of available-for-sale securities	184,902	109,707
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	26,011	12,877
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (9,748)	$ (4,034)

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Equity Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block]

Equity

(All shares reported in whole numbers)

Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:

	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment		Unrealized Gains and Losses			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
			(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2011	$	105,852	$	—		$	105,852
Activity in 2012	5,760		—			5,760
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	—		78,178			78,178
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	—		(78,178		)	(78,178		)
Balance at March 31, 2012	$	111,612	$	—		$	111,612

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into U.S. dollars using the current exchange rate. The U.S. dollar amount that arises from such translation, as well as exchange gains and losses on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature, are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment in Accumulated other comprehensive income.

Cash Dividends

On February 8, 2012, our Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $.05 per common share. At March 31, 2012, this dividend totaling $10.9 million was recorded in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities and Capital in excess of par value in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet. This dividend will be paid on April 30, 2012.

Share Repurchase Program

Subject to market conditions, normal trading restrictions, and limitations in our debt covenants, we may make purchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions under our stock repurchase program. In February 2012, our Board of Directors approved an increase in our share repurchase program authorizing the investment of up to an additional $120 million to repurchase our common stock, bringing total authorization up to $200 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we repurchased 6,591,870 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $73.2 million, which is an average cost per share of $11.10. After these repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program was approximately $146.8 million at March 31, 2012.

Subsequent to March 31, 2012, we repurchased an additional 759,276 shares of common stock at an aggregate cost of $8.3 million, which is an average cost per share of $10.93. After these second quarter repurchases, the remaining dollar value of shares authorized to be purchased under our share repurchase program is approximately $138.5 million.