Supplementary Information (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Product Information [Line Items]
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid			$ (1,587)	$ (735)
Total merchandise revenues	$ 340,885	$ 330,862	1,014,700	996,156
Total services revenues	327,381	342,470	1,067,515	1,086,344
Other revenues	46,259	44,982	134,781	128,069
Total revenues	714,525	718,314	2,216,996	2,210,569
Total cost of merchandise	152,735	153,101	457,739	461,150
Total cost of services	186,355	187,674	574,591	587,915
Overhead and other expenses	233,491	229,241	698,043	691,102
Total costs and expenses	572,581	570,016	$ 1,730,373	$ 1,740,167
Options exercised by attestation			0	761
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares			0	(761)
Funeral
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	145,193	146,799	$ 456,806	$ 467,285
Total services revenues	265,025	276,449	859,878	878,154
Total revenues	449,240	458,941	1,428,385	1,447,526
Total cost of merchandise	71,908	72,569	217,175	222,542
Total cost of services	154,538	152,625	472,602	476,288
Cemetery
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	195,692	184,063	557,894	528,871
Total services revenues	62,356	66,021	207,637	208,190
Total revenues	265,285	259,373	788,611	763,043
Total cost of merchandise	80,827	80,532	240,564	238,608
Total cost of services	$ 31,817	$ 35,049	$ 101,989	$ 111,627