Preneed Activities Preneed Activities Preneed Receivables and Trust Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Preneed Receivables and Trust Investments [Abstract]
Preneed receivables, net and trust investments	$ 6,191,912	$ 5,577,499	$ 6,015,323	$ 5,345,720
Net Preneed Contract Sales	1,973,012	1,978,266	1,870,972
Cash receipts from customers, net of refunds	(1,699,683)	(1,639,291)	(1,550,735)
Deposits To Trust Receivable Impact	515,866	468,482	452,554
Acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net	3,394	15,860	4,912
Net undistributed investments (losses) earnings	527,264	(611,057)	448,469
Maturities and Distributed Earnings	(591,834)	(500,216)	(464,247)
Change in cancellation allowance	(5,160)	(6,609)	(1,523)
Change in amounts due for unfulfilled performance obligations	(93,473)	(123,385)	(87,207)
Effect of foreign currency and other	$ (14,973)	$ (19,874)	$ (3,592)