Supplementary Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	$ 329,925	$ 291,277	$ 994,671	$ 873,320
Total services revenues	342,145	280,578	1,086,015	903,049
Other revenues	46,244	36,734	129,883	106,869
Total revenues	718,314	608,589	2,210,569	1,883,238
Total cost of merchandise	147,633	125,033	458,530	386,923
Total cost of services	192,244	161,979	590,045	488,827
Overhead and other expenses	230,139	205,772	691,592	606,373
Total costs and expenses	570,016	492,784	1,740,167	1,482,123
Options exercised by attestation			761,000	143,000
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares			(761,000)	(143,000)
Funeral
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	146,786	137,507	467,170	440,071
Total services revenues	276,916	230,658	878,154	745,344
Total revenues	458,941	398,220	1,447,526	1,272,850
Total cost of merchandise	68,943	62,604	224,192	203,423
Total cost of services	157,846	137,661	479,586	411,958
Cemetery
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	183,139	153,770	527,501	433,249
Total services revenues	65,229	49,920	207,861	157,705
Total revenues	259,373	210,369	763,043	610,388
Total cost of merchandise	78,690	62,429	234,338	183,500
Total cost of services	$ 34,398	$ 24,318	$ 110,459	$ 76,869