Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 751,710	$ 754,354	$ 1,500,981	$ 1,502,471
Gross Profit	161,371	166,257	322,867	343,701
General and administrative expenses	(36,260)	(33,095)	(73,768)	(67,645)
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(30,641)	(5,582)	(30,988)	(7,361)
Operating income	94,470	127,580	218,111	268,695
Interest expense	(39,398)	(42,982)	(82,480)	(85,921)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(21,898)	0	(22,479)	0
Other income (expense), net	(535)	(109)	(746)	(167)
Income before income taxes	32,639	84,489	112,406	182,607
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	707,750	705,074	1,416,688	1,405,526
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	43,960	49,280	84,293	96,945
Funeral
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	467,092	471,520	959,201	979,207
Gross Profit	87,999	94,260	194,980	221,197
Other income (expense), net	0	0		0
Cemetery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	284,618	282,834	541,780	523,264
Gross Profit	73,372	71,997	$ 127,887	122,504
Other income (expense), net	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0