Segment Reporting Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	$ 2,556,382	$ 2,410,481	$ 2,316,040
Interest expense																	142,360	135,068	133,782
Depreciation and amortization																	122,602	120,227	118,047
Depreciation and amortization																	122,602	120,227	118,047
Amortization of intangible assets																	21,859	23,853	25,591
Amortization of cemetery property																	48,344	44,976	40,046
Total assets	12,906,070								9,683,568								12,906,070	9,683,568
Capital expenditures																	113,084	115,628	118,375
Gross profits from reportable segments	147,819		116,055		126,038		159,657		147,811		120,753		127,631		127,018		549,569	523,213	476,502
General and administrative expenses																	(155,136)	(121,891)	(101,826)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net																	(6,263)	(1,533)	(10,977)
Operating income	87,995		83,296		89,114		127,765		103,806		95,176		99,689		101,118		388,170	399,789	363,699
Gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, net																	468	(22,706)	(3,509)
Other (expense) income, net																	(559)	3,668	(772)
Income before income taxes	49,682	[1]	45,882	[1]	56,143	[1]	94,012	[1]	46,749	[1]	63,925	[1]	63,574	[1]	71,435	[1]	245,719	245,683	225,636
Long-lived assets																	6992916	4938726	4908408
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	2,334,676	2,191,532	2,103,738
Interest expense																	141,991	134,643	133,479
Depreciation and amortization																	111,210	108,411	105,931
Amortization of intangible assets																	20,846	22,433	24,223
Amortization of cemetery property																	42,972	39,803	35,375
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net																	5,958	1,502	10,299
Operating income																	331,143	346,289	311,790
Long-lived assets																	6660263	4575926	4553557
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	215,799	212,898	205,733
Interest expense																	369	425	303
Depreciation and amortization																	11,025	11,451	11,723
Amortization of intangible assets																	1,013	1,420	1,368
Amortization of cemetery property																	5,372	5,173	4,671
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net																	305	9	678
Operating income																	56,513	53,081	51,367
Long-lived assets																	329785	359882	351813
GERMANY
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	5,907	6,051	6,569
Interest expense																	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization																	367	365	393
Amortization of intangible assets																	0	0	0
Amortization of cemetery property																	0	0	0
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net																	0	22
Operating income																	514	419	542
Long-lived assets																	2868	2918	3038
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	2,556,382	2,410,481	2,316,040
Interest expense																	5,084	4,686	4,262
Depreciation and amortization																	116,339	113,808	111,227
Depreciation and amortization																	116,339	113,808	111,227
Amortization of intangible assets																	21,835	23,824	24,122
Amortization of cemetery property																	48,344	44,976	40,046
Total assets	12,339,539								9,346,002								12,339,539	9,346,002	8,991,080
Capital expenditures																	108,764	102,139	103,247
Capital expenditures																	108,764	102,139	103,247
Gross profits from reportable segments																	549,569	523,213	476,502
Other (expense) income, net																	(559)	3,668	(772)
Funeral [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	1,704,375	1,625,738	1,573,498
Interest expense																	4,736	4,302	3,957
Depreciation and amortization																	92,879	91,035	89,872
Amortization of intangible assets																	17,245	18,803	18,582
Amortization of cemetery property																	0	0	0
Total assets	5,765,137								4,537,444								5,765,137	4,537,444	4,494,331
Capital expenditures																	50,449	43,984	45,275
Gross profits from reportable segments																	350,940	347,800	329,410
Other (expense) income, net																	0	0	0
Cemetery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	852,007	784,743	742,542
Interest expense																	348	384	305
Depreciation and amortization																	23,460	22,773	21,355
Amortization of intangible assets																	4,590	5,021	5,540
Amortization of cemetery property																	48,344	44,976	40,046
Total assets	6,574,402								4,808,558								6,574,402	4,808,558	4,496,749
Capital expenditures																	58,315	58,155	57,972
Gross profits from reportable segments																	198,629	175,413	147,092
Other (expense) income, net																	0	0	0
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	0	0	0
Interest expense																	137,276	130,382	129,520
Depreciation and amortization																	6,263	6,419	6,820
Amortization of intangible assets																	24	29	1,469
Total assets	566,531								337,566								566,531	337,566	336,732
Capital expenditures																	4,320	13,489	15,128
Other (expense) income, net																	(559)	3,668	(772)
Consolidated Entities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers																	2,556,382	2,410,481	2,316,040
Interest expense																	142,360	135,068	133,782
Depreciation and amortization																	122,602	120,227	118,047
Amortization of intangible assets																	21,859	23,853	25,591
Total assets	12,906,070								9,683,568								12,906,070	9,683,568	9,327,812
Capital expenditures																	$ 113,084	$ 115,628	$ 118,375

[1] Includes (Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net, as described in Note 20.