Segment Reporting Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 597,372	$ 576,774	$ 1,199,878	$ 1,156,473
Gross Profit	128,189	115,023	255,756	241,469
General and administrative expenses	(29,558)	(24,685)	(55,517)	(53,518)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	1,058	(9,843)	568	(10,263)
Operating income	99,689	80,495	200,807	177,688
Interest expense	(33,894)	(33,879)	(67,482)	(67,438)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	0	(1,835)	0	(2,149)
Other income (expense), net	(2,221)	46	1,684	720
Income before income taxes	63,574	44,827	135,009	108,821
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	544,352	526,098	1,091,528	1,050,994
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	51,590	48,963	105,131	101,882
GERMANY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	1,430	1,713	3,219	3,597
Funeral [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	396,421	385,924	820,702	794,359
Gross Profit	81,687	75,450	181,711	174,805
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Cemetery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	200,951	190,850	379,176	362,114
Gross Profit	46,502	39,573	74,045	66,664
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other income (expense), net	$ (2,221)	$ 46	$ 1,684	$ 720