Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	$ 721,467	$ 714,453	$ 2,222,083	$ 2,216,761
Gross Profit	140,745	141,679	465,658	486,787
General and administrative expenses	(26,916)	(27,895)	(102,668)	(96,947)
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	557	10,764	(30,432)	3,403
Operating income	114,386	124,548	332,558	393,243
Interest expense	(39,508)	(43,921)	(121,988)	(129,842)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(25)	(6,918)	(22,503)	(6,918)
Other income (expense), net	110	336	(697)	169
Income before income taxes	74,963	74,045	187,370	256,652
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	681,769	671,785	2,098,091	2,077,143
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	39,698	42,668	123,992	139,618
Funeral
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	445,462	449,300	1,404,623	1,428,469
Gross Profit	75,576	77,734	273,938	299,769
Other income (expense), net	0	0		0
Cemetery
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from External Customers	276,005	265,153	817,460	788,292
Gross Profit	65,169	63,945	$ 191,720	187,018
Other income (expense), net	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0