Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 749,271	$ 748,117
Gross Profit	161,496	177,444
General and administrative expenses	(37,508)	(34,550)
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(347)	(1,779)
Operating income	123,641	141,115
Interest expense	(43,082)	(42,939)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(581)	0
Other income (expense), net	(211)	(58)
Income before income taxes	79,767	98,118
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	708,938	700,452
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	40,333	47,665
Funeral
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	492,109	507,687
Gross Profit	106,981	126,937
Other income (expense), net	0	0
Cemetery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	257,162	240,430
Gross Profit	54,515	50,507
Other income (expense), net	$ 0	$ 0