Equity Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 105,852
Activity in 2012	138,742	88,453
Balance at end of period	116,831
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	105,852
Activity in 2012	10,979	(13,216)
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	101,917
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	(101,917)
Balance at end of period	116,831
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	116,831
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	101,917
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	(101,917)
Balance at end of period	$ 0