Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Abstract]  
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]
The changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill for our funeral and cemetery reporting units are as follows (in thousands):
 
2011
 
2010
 
Funeral
 
Cemetery
 
Total
 
Funeral
 
Cemetery
 
Total
Balance as of January 1:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Goodwill
$
1,244,206

 
$
210,072

 
$
1,454,278

 
$
1,140,742

 
$
207,384

 
$
1,348,126

Accumulated impairment losses
—

 
(146,794
)
 
(146,794
)
 
—

 
(146,794
)
 
(146,794
)
 Goodwill, net
1,244,206

 
63,278

 
1,307,484

 
1,140,742

 
60,590

 
1,201,332

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions
60,933

 
463

 
61,396

 
114,020

 
6,076

 
120,096

Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures
(4,332
)
 
(598
)
 
(4,930
)
 
(16,581
)
 
(3,388
)
 
(19,969
)
Effect of foreign currency and other
(2,457
)
 
—

 
(2,457
)
 
6,025

 
—

 
6,025

 
54,144

 
(135
)
 
54,009

 
103,464

 
2,688

 
106,152

Balance as of December 31:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Goodwill
1,298,350

 
209,937

 
1,508,287

 
1,244,206

 
210,072

 
1,454,278

Accumulated impairment losses
—

 
(146,794
)
 
(146,794
)
 
—

 
(146,794
)
 
(146,794
)
Goodwill, net
$
1,298,350

 
$
63,143

 
$
1,361,493

 
$
1,244,206

 
$
63,278

 
$
1,307,484
Schedule of Intangible Assets [Table Text Block]
The components of intangible assets at December 31 were as follows:
 
Useful life
 
 
 
 
 
Minimum
 
Maximum
 
2011
 
2010
 
(Years)
 
(In thousands)
Amortizing intangibles:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Covenants-not-to-compete
2
-
20
 
$
200,973

 
$
195,346

Customer relationships
10
-
20
 
100,423

 
93,218

Tradenames
5
-
5
 
3,600

 
3,600

Other
5
-
40
 
6,050

 
6,050

 
 
 
 
 
311,046

 
298,214

Less: Accumulated amortization
 
 
 
 
189,773

 
171,597

Amortizing intangibles, net
 
 
 
 
121,273

 
126,617

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-amortizing intangibles:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tradenames
 
 
Indefinite
 
121,838

 
82,732

Other
 
 
Indefinite
 
10,140

 
10,140

Non-amortizing intangibles
 
 
 
 
131,978

 
92,872

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Intangible assets, net
 
 
 
 
$
253,251

 
$
219,489
Schedule of Expected Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]
The following is estimated amortization expense, excluding certain customer relationship intangibles for which we are unable to provide an estimate because they are amortized based on specific identification in the performance of a preneed contract, for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
2012
$
14,591

2013
12,589

2014
10,929

2015
8,236

2016
7,745

 
$
54,090