Supplementary Information (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Product Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid			$ 1,513	$ (2,615)
Total merchandise revenues	$ 351,444	$ 344,619	673,622	664,746
Total services revenues	354,902	361,327	740,329	743,870
Other revenues	48,008	40,814	88,520	83,639
Total revenues	754,354	746,760	1,502,471	1,492,255
Total cost of merchandise	162,372	159,406	310,553	310,897
Total cost of services	193,170	201,258	382,275	397,801
Overhead and other expenses	232,082	230,054	464,964	461,453
Total costs and expenses	587,624	590,718	$ 1,157,792	$ 1,170,151
Options exercised by attestation			0	761
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares			0	(761)
Funeral
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	150,696	155,649	$ 311,594	$ 320,384
Total services revenues	280,989	290,078	594,875	601,238
Total revenues	471,490	479,540	979,146	988,585
Total cost of merchandise	76,133	73,295	155,291	155,249
Total cost of services	158,377	162,235	313,349	321,740
Cemetery
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	200,748	188,970	362,028	344,362
Total services revenues	73,913	71,249	145,454	142,632
Total revenues	282,864	267,220	523,325	503,670
Total cost of merchandise	86,239	86,111	155,262	155,648
Total cost of services	$ 34,793	$ 39,023	$ 68,926	$ 76,061