Segment Reporting Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 581,182	$ 572,999	$ 1,781,060	$ 1,729,472
Gross Profit	121,271	107,050	377,027	348,519
General and administrative expenses	(26,410)	(23,863)	(81,927)	(77,381)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	315	(5,001)	883	(15,264)
Operating income	95,176	78,186	295,983	255,874
Interest expense	(33,568)	(33,038)	(101,050)	(100,476)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	0	(1,355)	0	(3,504)
Other income (expense), net	2,317	249	4,001	969
Income before income taxes	63,925	44,042	198,934	152,863
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	523,600	518,754	1,615,128	1,569,748
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	56,280	52,824	161,411	154,706
GERMANY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	1,302	1,421	4,521	5,018
Funeral [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	388,365	384,003	1,209,067	1,178,362
Gross Profit	75,992	69,022	257,703	243,827
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Cemetery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	192,817	188,996	571,993	551,110
Gross Profit	45,279	38,028	119,324	104,692
Other income (expense), net	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Other income (expense), net	$ 2,317	$ 249	$ 4,001	$ 969