Segment Reporting Level 4 (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Sep. 30, 2011
Jun. 30, 2011
Mar. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Sep. 30, 2010
Jun. 30, 2010
Mar. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 $ 2,316,040 $ 2,190,552 $ 2,053,520
Interest expense                 133,782 128,196 128,981
Depreciation and amortization                 118,047 116,391 111,102
Depreciation and amortization                 118,047 116,391 111,102
Amortization of intangible assets                 25,591 25,197 21,698
Amortization of cemetery property                 40,046 32,418 30,664
Total assets 9,327,812       9,190,540       9,327,812 9,190,540  
Capital expenditures                 118,375 97,899 83,790
Gross profits from reportable segments 130,017 107,050 115,023 126,446 124,920 102,647 109,298 112,358 478,536 449,223 421,395
General and administrative expenses                 (103,860) (103,689) (102,501)
(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net                 (10,977) 8,512 4,253
Other operating income                 0 0 740
Operating income 107,825 78,186 80,495 97,193 103,998 68,496 95,926 85,626 363,699 354,046 323,887
(Losses) gains on early extinguishment of debt, net                 (3,509) (9,400) 3,146
Other (expense) income, net                 (772) 3,009 1,316
Income before income taxes 72,773 [1] 44,042 [1] 44,827 [1] 63,994 [1] 71,972 [1] 28,621 [1] 67,425 [1] 51,441 [1] 225,636 219,459 199,368
Long-lived assets                 4908408 4833784 4885488
UNITED STATES
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 2,103,738 1,981,190 1,869,042
Interest expense                 133,479 127,971 128,798
Depreciation and amortization                 105,931 104,496 100,380
Amortization of intangible assets                 24,223 23,524 19,969
Amortization of cemetery property                 35,375 27,688 27,545
(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net                 10,299 (6,837) (8,906)
Operating income                 311,790 301,297 288,108
Long-lived assets                 4553557 4467176 4526789
CANADA
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 205,733 202,760 177,665
Interest expense                 303 225 140
Depreciation and amortization                 11,723 11,507 10,273
Amortization of intangible assets                 1,368 1,673 1,729
Amortization of cemetery property                 4,671 4,730 3,119
(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net                 678 (1,600) 4,614
Operating income                 51,367 51,799 35,462
Long-lived assets                 351813 363008 354677
GERMANY
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 6,569 6,602 6,813
Interest expense                 0 0 43
Depreciation and amortization                 393 388 449
Amortization of intangible assets                 0 0 0
Amortization of cemetery property                 0 0 0
(Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net                 0 (75) 39
Operating income                 542 950 317
Long-lived assets                 3038 3600 4022
Operating Segments [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 2,316,040 2,190,552 2,053,520
Interest expense                 4,262 3,290 3,395
Depreciation and amortization                 111,227 108,806 107,213
Amortization of intangible assets                 24,122 23,559 21,578
Amortization of cemetery property                 40,046 32,418 30,664
Total assets 8,991,080       8,712,703       8,991,080 8,712,703 8,297,480
Capital expenditures                 103,247 83,189 77,074
Gross profits from reportable segments                 478,536 449,223 421,395
Other (expense) income, net                 (772) 3,009 1,316
Funeral [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 1,573,498 1,492,838 1,391,894
Interest expense                 3,957 3,033 2,548
Depreciation and amortization                 89,872 87,897 85,324
Amortization of intangible assets                 18,582 17,464 15,473
Amortization of cemetery property                 0 0 0
Total assets 4,494,331       4,262,675       4,494,331 4,262,675 4,081,512
Capital expenditures                 45,275 34,762 38,348
Gross profits from reportable segments                 330,732 317,068 305,809
Other (expense) income, net                 0 0 0
Cemetery [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 742,542 697,714 661,626
Interest expense                 305 257 847
Depreciation and amortization                 21,355 20,909 21,889
Amortization of intangible assets                 5,540 6,095 6,105
Amortization of cemetery property                 40,046 32,418 30,664
Total assets 4,496,749       4,450,028       4,496,749 4,450,028 4,215,968
Capital expenditures                 57,972 48,427 38,726
Gross profits from reportable segments                 147,804 132,155 115,586
Other (expense) income, net                 0 0 0
Reportable Segment [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 2,316,040 2,190,552 2,053,520
Interest expense                 4,262 3,290 3,395
Depreciation and amortization                 111,227 108,806 107,213
Amortization of intangible assets                 24,122 23,559 21,578
Total assets 8,991,080       8,712,703       8,991,080 8,712,703 8,297,480
Capital expenditures                 103,247 83,189 77,074
Corporate Elimination [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 0 0 0
Interest expense                 129,520 124,906 125,586
Depreciation and amortization                 6,820 7,585 3,889
Amortization of intangible assets                 1,469 1,638 120
Total assets 336,732       477,837       336,732 477,837 593,462
Capital expenditures                 15,128 14,710 6,716
Other (expense) income, net                 (772) 3,009 1,316
Consolidated Entities [Member]
                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Revenue from External Customers                 2,316,040 2,190,552 2,053,520
Interest expense                 133,782 128,196 128,981
Depreciation and amortization                 118,047 116,391 111,102
Amortization of intangible assets                 25,591 25,197 21,698
Total assets 9,327,812       9,190,540       9,327,812 9,190,540 8,890,942
Capital expenditures                 $ 118,375 $ 97,899 $ 83,790
[1] Includes (losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net, as described in Note 20.