Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards	$ 141,739		$ 215,285
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	154,135		146,232	127,001
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses (gains) on early extinguishment of debt, net	22,706		3,509	9,400
Depreciation and amortization	120,227		118,047	116,391
Amortization of intangible assets	23,853		25,591	25,197
Amortization of cemetery property	44,976		40,046	32,418
Amortization of loan costs	4,905		4,436	4,266
Provision for doubtful accounts	9,705		9,251	8,155
Provision for deferred income taxes	72,984		66,512	76,934
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	1,533		10,977	(8,512)
Share-based compensation	10,983		9,144	8,878
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase in receivables	(9,737)		(3,322)	(14,561)
Decrease in other assets	(6,714)		6,815	2,603
Increase in payables and other liabilities	25,240		14,610	16,374
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	38,902		69,688	45,988
(Decrease) increase in deferred preneed funeral revenue	(41,813)		(32,158)	(14,778)
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	(22,357)		(50,591)	(36,322)
Effect of cemetery production and deliveries:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	(96,837)		(65,581)	(53,224)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	20,817		23,636	10,558
Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	(587)		(9,419)	(648)
Other	(3,675)		689	(1,739)
Net cash provided by operating activities	369,246		388,112	354,379
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(115,628)		(118,375)	(97,899)
Acquisitions	(65,463)		(99,570)	(299,083)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment, net	9,953		24,529	90,835
Net withdrawals (deposits) of restricted funds and other	(3,816)		3,159	26,437
Net cash used in investing activities	(174,954)		(190,257)	(279,710)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	227,507		85,000	510,000
Debt issuance costs	(4,500)		0	(11,828)
Payments of debt	(1,145)		(22,774)	(263,063)
Early extinguishment of debt	(202,140)		(43,194)	(119,105)
Principal payments on capital leases	(25,760)		(23,030)	(46,214)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	18,389		8,227	1,759
Purchase of Company common stock	(186,766)		(197,302)	(116,878)
Payments of dividends	(60,296)		(44,795)	(40,001)
Payments to Acquire Additional Interest in Subsidiaries	(3,000)		0	0
Bank overdrafts and other	6,199		(798)	(2,856)
Net cash used in financing activities	(231,512)		(238,666)	(88,186)
Effect of foreign currency	1,359		(1,466)	4,618
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(35,861)		(42,277)	(8,899)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	128,569		170,846	179,745
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	92,708		128,569	170,846
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	(67,732)		(63,681)
Foreign Tax Authority [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards	22,648
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	18,371
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards	27,316
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	3,707
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Deferred Tax Assets, Loss and Tax Credit Carryforwards	91,775	[1]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 45,654	[1]

[1] Presented net of Federal benefit