| Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] |
Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment | | Unrealized Gains and Losses | | Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income | | (In thousands) | Balance at December 31, 2008 | $ | 36,649 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 36,649 |
| Activity in 2009 | 60,493 |
| | — |
| | 60,493 |
| Increase in net unrealized gains, net of tax, associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes | — |
| | 323,131 |
| | 323,131 |
| Reclassification of net unrealized gains, net of tax, activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes | — |
| | (323,131 | ) | | (323,131 | ) | Balance at December 31, 2009 | $ | 97,142 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 97,142 |
| Activity in 2010 | 15,626 |
| | — |
| | 15,626 |
| Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes | — |
| | 147,688 |
| | 147,688 |
| Reclassification of net unrealized gains activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes | — |
| | (147,688 | ) | | (147,688 | ) | Balance at December 31, 2010 | $ | 112,768 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 112,768 |
| Activity in 2011 | (6,916 | ) | | — |
| | (6,916 | ) | Reduction in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes | — |
| | (80,789 | ) | | (80,789 | ) | Reclassification of net unrealized losses activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus, net of taxes | — |
| | 80,789 |
| | 80,789 |
| Balance at December 31, 2011 | $ | 105,852 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 105,852 |
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