Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash	$ 52,431	$ 67,937
Commercial paper and temporary investments	40,277	60,632
Cash and cash equivalents	92,708	128,569	170,846	179,745
Receivables, net:
Notes receivable	976	1,313
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	1,690	1,989
Other	16,226	12,639
Receivables, net	105,521	103,892
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	4,805	8,670
Prepaid insurance	4,258	4,221
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	1,484	4,138
Other Assets, Current	9,999	8,774
Other	20,546	25,803
Cemetery Property, Undeveloped Land	1,077,930	1,072,170
Cemetery Property, Developed	412,018	425,533
Cemetery property, at cost	1,489,948	1,497,703
Land	524,381	515,100
Buildings and Improvements, Gross	1,596,888	1,526,290
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	482,476	456,852
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	27,532	24,717
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	181,386	168,538
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,812,663	2,691,497
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(1,070,385)	(976,823)
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other, Accumulated Depreciation	(101,177)	(96,313)
Property and equipment, net	1,641,101	1,618,361
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	257,703	253,251
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	4,457	6,903
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	490	6,932
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	10,334	11,488
Allowance for Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Noncurrent	1,316	1,665
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	67,408	74,486
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	84,875	77,791
Accounts payable	104,025	115,302
Accrued compensation	97,750	82,145
Accrued dividend	0	11,027	9,602
Interest Payable, Current	20,709	22,555
Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes, Current	14,246	13,057
Self Insurance Reserve, Current	57,543	52,697
Bank Overdrafts	22,240	15,309
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	57,270	46,812
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	373,783	358,904
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	27,374	29,214
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent	59,897	49,711
Customer Funds	70,656	76,270
Tax liability	185,568	207,701
Indemnification Liability	1,681	2,490
Payable to ECF	41,806	35,316
Other Assets, Noncurrent	12,968	14,071
Total merchandise revenues	1,094,085	1,031,401	971,252
Total services revenues	1,187,130	1,163,947	1,116,399
Other revenues	129,266	120,692	102,901
Total revenues	2,410,481	2,316,040	2,190,552
Total cost of merchandise	501,230	481,100	451,769
Total cost of services	616,194	593,738	548,454
Overhead and other expenses	767,830	762,666	741,106
Total costs and expenses	1,885,254	1,837,504	1,741,329
Deferred charges and other assets	425,267	430,851
Other liabilities	399,950	414,773
Funeral [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	73,911	77,103
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	3,298	7,755
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	273,098	277,650
Total merchandise revenues	539,581	514,718	489,744
Total services revenues	984,026	968,578	930,163
Total cost of merchandise	267,355	258,694	247,104
Total cost of services	517,131	496,036	453,678
Cemetery [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	14,408	12,837
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	9	5
Total merchandise revenues	554,504	516,683	481,508
Total services revenues	203,104	195,369	186,236
Total cost of merchandise	233,875	222,406	204,665
Total cost of services	$ 99,063	$ 97,702	$ 94,776