Equity Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 105,852
Activity in 2012	83,432	76,587
Balance at end of period	103,328
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	105,852
Activity in 2012	(2,524)	9,916
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	34,036
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	(34,036)
Balance at end of period	103,328
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	105,852
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	103,328
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	34,036
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	(34,036)
Balance at end of period	$ 0