Segment Reporting Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	$ 971		$ 971		$ 2,180
Revenues	1,034,372	$ 918,241	3,099,888	$ 2,541,241
Interest expense	(38,618)	(40,721)	(111,865)	(126,839)
Depreciation and amortization			119,200	116,453
Amortization of intangibles			15,095	17,056
Amortization of cemetery property			75,394	56,854
Total assets	15,370,191		15,370,191		$ 14,515,425
Capital expenditures			177,767	155,597
Gross profits from reportable segments	333,019	263,656	979,239	661,467
Corporate general and administrative expenses	(36,477)	(40,986)	(102,248)	(109,968)
Gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(7,804)	(543)	(15,232)	(5,825)
Operating income	304,346	223,213	892,223	557,324
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	0	(18,278)	(5,226)	(18,428)
Other income (expense), net	8,218	629	9,214	548
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	273,946	164,843	784,346	412,605
UNITED STATES
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	978,850	878,723	2,932,464	2,419,837
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	55,522	39,518	167,424	121,404
Funeral [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	592,289	518,634	1,743,430	1,504,477
Gross profits from reportable segments	165,019	124,135	464,192	343,668
Cemetery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	442,083	399,607	1,356,458	1,036,764
Gross profits from reportable segments	168,000	139,521	515,047	317,799
Funeral Atneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	318,432	275,060	938,835	796,014
Funeral Matured Preneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	172,410	164,245	522,051	486,185
Funeral Core Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	490,842	439,305	1,460,886	1,282,199
Non-funeral Home Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	18,478	15,592	55,089	44,189
Funeral Recognized Preneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	45,552	32,744	120,414	93,207
Funeral Other Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	37,417	30,993	107,041	84,882
Cemetery Atneed Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	123,443	103,330	357,094	279,475
Cemetery Recognized Preneed Property Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	201,876	190,068	643,016	458,267
Cemetery Recognized Preneed Merchandise And Service Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	84,989	80,948	258,525	219,456
Cemetery Core Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	410,308	374,346	1,258,635	957,198
Cemetery Other Revenue [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 31,775	$ 25,261	$ 97,823	$ 79,566