Segment Reporting Level 3 (Tables)
| 9 Months Ended |
|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 |
|---|
| Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items] | |
| Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] | Our reportable segment information is as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Funeral | | Cemetery | | Reportable Segments | | (In thousands) | Three Months ended September 30, | | | | | | Revenues from external customers: | | | | | | 2011 | $ | 384,003 |
| | $ | 188,996 |
| | $ | 572,999 |
| 2010 | $ | 358,931 |
| | $ | 174,234 |
| | $ | 533,165 |
| Gross profits: | | | | | | 2011 | $ | 69,022 |
| | $ | 38,028 |
| | $ | 107,050 |
| 2010 | $ | 69,058 |
| | $ | 33,589 |
| | $ | 102,647 |
| Nine Months ended September 30, | | | | | | Revenues from external customers: | | | | | | 2011 | $ | 1,178,362 |
| | $ | 551,110 |
| | $ | 1,729,472 |
| 2010 | $ | 1,105,687 |
| | $ | 513,614 |
| | $ | 1,619,301 |
| Gross profits: | | | | | | 2011 | $ | 243,827 |
| | $ | 104,692 |
| | $ | 348,519 |
| 2010 | $ | 231,167 |
| | $ | 93,136 |
| | $ | 324,303 |
|
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| Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block] | The following table reconciles gross profits from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | | September 30, | | September 30, | | 2011 | | 2010 | | 2011 | | 2010 | | (In thousands) | | (In thousands) | Gross profits from reportable segments | $ | 107,050 |
| | $ | 102,647 |
| | $ | 348,519 |
| | $ | 324,303 |
| General and administrative expenses | (23,863 | ) | | (26,860 | ) | | (77,381 | ) | | (80,086 | ) | (Losses) gains on divestitures and impairment charges, net | (5,001 | ) | | (7,291 | ) | | (15,264 | ) | | 5,831 |
| Operating income | 78,186 |
| | 68,496 |
| | 255,874 |
| | 250,048 |
| Interest expense | (33,038 | ) | | (31,497 | ) | | (100,476 | ) | | (96,281 | ) | Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net | (1,355 | ) | | (9,066 | ) | | (3,504 | ) | | (9,357 | ) | Other income, net | 249 |
| | 688 |
| | 969 |
| | 3,077 |
| Income before income taxes | $ | 44,042 |
| | $ | 28,621 |
| | $ | 152,863 |
| | $ | 147,487 |
|
|
| Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block] | Our geographic area information is as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | United States | | Canada | | Germany | | Total | | | | (In thousands) | | | Three Months ended September 30, | | | | | | | | Revenues from external customers: | | | | | | | | 2011 | $ | 518,754 |
| | $ | 52,824 |
| | $ | 1,421 |
| | $ | 572,999 |
| 2010 | $ | 479,120 |
| | $ | 52,399 |
| | $ | 1,646 |
| | $ | 533,165 |
| Nine Months ended September 30, | | | | | | | | Revenues from external customers: | | | | | | | | 2011 | $ | 1,569,748 |
| | $ | 154,706 |
| | $ | 5,018 |
| | $ | 1,729,472 |
| 2010 | $ | 1,458,883 |
| | $ | 155,497 |
| | $ | 4,921 |
| | $ | 1,619,301 |
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