Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,805,981	$ 1,799,081
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,805,981
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	68,195	9,228
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(2,207)	(8,896)
Effect of foreign currency and other	(8,127)	6,568
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	57,861	6,900
Goodwill, ending balance		1,805,981	$ 1,799,081
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,863,842	1,805,981
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	2,400
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	129,591	99,454
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Future Total	33,420
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	415,024	365,221
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	285,433	265,767
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	129,591	99,454
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	293,474	263,880
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	10,765	10,765
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	304,239	274,645
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	433,830	374,099
Amortization of intangibles	26,195	27,650	30,956
Future Amortization Expense, Year One	8,167
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two	7,076
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three	6,966
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four	5,801
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five	5,410
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	2,400
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	215,424	214,628
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	195,536	192,296
Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	158,347	129,516
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	75,199	61,321
Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	16,150	9,150
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	9,194	7,320
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	25,103	11,927
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	5,504	4,830
Funeral [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,499,741	1,493,655
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,499,741
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	38,976	8,013
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(2,183)	(8,495)
Effect of foreign currency and other	(8,127)	6,568
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	28,666	6,086
Goodwill, ending balance		1,499,741	1,493,655
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,528,407	1,499,741
Amortization of intangibles	17,515	17,871	20,444
Cemetery [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	306,240	305,426
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	306,240
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	29,219	1,215
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(24)	(401)
Effect of foreign currency and other	0	0
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	29,195	814
Goodwill, ending balance		306,240	305,426
Goodwill, net, ending balance	335,435	306,240
Amortization of intangibles	$ 8,619	$ 9,696	$ 10,438
Minimum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	10 years
Minimum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	89 years
Maximum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	89 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	89 years