Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus Level 4 (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |
|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 |
|---|
| Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items] | | | | | |
| Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities | $ 25,588 | $ 17,045 | $ 132,064 | $ 67,297 | |
| Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities | (17,108) | (20,256) | (52,715) | (96,634) | |
| Impairment charges | (42,423) | (2,916) | (47,218) | (14,041) | |
| Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income | 14,313 | 17,956 | 57,405 | 53,386 | |
| Trust expenses and income taxes | (5,882) | (3,993) | (15,120) | (11,835) | |
| Net trust investment income | (25,512) | 7,836 | 74,416 | (1,827) | |
| Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus' | 25,512 | (7,836) | (74,416) | 1,827 | |
| Other income, net | 249 | 688 | 969 | 3,077 | |
| Total other income, net | 249 | 688 | 969 | 3,077 | |
| Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses | 2,338,936 | | 2,338,936 | | 2,411,337 |
| Accrued trust operating payables and other | (2,776) | | (2,776) | | (3,263) |
| Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust | 2,336,160 | | 2,336,160 | | 2,408,074 |
| Care trusts’ corpus | 971,926 | | 971,926 | | 986,872 |
Cemetery [Member] | | | | | |
| Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items] | | | | | |
| Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities | 10,134 | 6,838 | 51,225 | 31,899 | |
| Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities | (8,758) | (9,828) | (19,994) | (47,093) | |
| Impairment charges | (24,885) | (1,536) | (26,081) | (4,919) | |
| Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income | 4,217 | 5,491 | 16,545 | 14,914 | |
| Trust expenses and income taxes | (3,119) | (2,555) | (7,385) | (7,024) | |
| Net trust investment income | (22,411) | (1,590) | 14,310 | (12,223) | |
| Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus' | 22,411 | 1,590 | (14,310) | 12,223 | |
| Other income, net | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total other income, net | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses | 1,094,652 | | 1,094,652 | | 1,194,795 |
| Accrued trust operating payables and other | (1,630) | | (1,630) | | (2,288) |
| Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust | 1,093,022 | | 1,093,022 | | 1,192,507 |
Funeral [Member] | | | | | |
| Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items] | | | | | |
| Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities | 11,353 | 5,963 | 49,618 | 26,461 | |
| Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities | (6,586) | (8,360) | (18,215) | (42,017) | |
| Impairment charges | (17,533) | (1,129) | (20,821) | (7,298) | |
| Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income | 3,911 | 3,291 | 15,085 | 13,223 | |
| Trust expenses and income taxes | (2,116) | (1,324) | (4,982) | (3,150) | |
| Net trust investment income | (10,971) | (1,559) | 20,685 | (12,781) | |
| Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus' | 10,971 | 1,559 | (20,685) | 12,781 | |
| Other income, net | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total other income, net | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses | 1,244,284 | | 1,244,284 | | 1,216,542 |
| Accrued trust operating payables and other | (1,146) | | (1,146) | | (975) |
| Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust | 1,243,138 | | 1,243,138 | | 1,215,567 |
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member] | | | | | |
| Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items] | | | | | |
| Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities | 4,101 | 4,244 | 31,221 | 8,937 | |
| Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities | (1,764) | (2,068) | (14,506) | (7,524) | |
| Impairment charges | (5) | (251) | (316) | (1,824) | |
| Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income | 6,185 | 9,174 | 25,775 | 25,249 | |
| Trust expenses and income taxes | (647) | (114) | (2,753) | (1,661) | |
| Net trust investment income | 7,870 | 10,985 | 39,421 | 23,177 | |
| Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus' | (7,870) | (10,985) | (39,421) | (23,177) | |
| Other income, net | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total other income, net | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Care trusts' corpus, excluding accrued expenses | 974,266 | | 974,266 | | 987,019 |
| Accrued trust operating payables and other | (2,340) | | (2,340) | | (147) |
| Care trusts’ corpus | 971,926 | | 971,926 | | 986,872 |
Corporate Elimination [Member] | | | | | |
| Component of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items] | | | | | |
| Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Impairment charges | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Trust expenses and income taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Net trust investment income | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus' | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Other income, net | 249 | 688 | 969 | 3,077 | |
| Total other income, net | $ 249 | $ 688 | $ 969 | $ 3,077 | |