Acquisition Acquisition, Textuals (Details) (USD $)
| | | 9 Months Ended |
|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2010 | Mar. 31, 2010
Current [Member] | Mar. 31, 2010
Noncurrent [Member] | Sep. 30, 2010
Cemetery [Member] | Sep. 30, 2010
Funeral [Member] |
|---|
| Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price Per Share | | $ 8.07 | | | | |
| Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price | $ 44,000,000 | $ 288,900,000 | | | | |
| Business Acquisition, Debt Refinancing | | 80,700,000 | | | | |
| Business Combination, Acquired Receivables, Gross Contractual Amount | | | 8,200,000 | 5,500,000 | | |
| Business Combination, Acquired Receivables, Estimated Uncollectible | | | 2,100,000 | 300,000 | | |
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Noncurrent Assets, Receivables | | 5,200,000 | | | | |
| Goodwill | | 108,643,000 | | | | |
| Goodwill, Acquired During Period | | | | | 4,300,000 | 104,300,000 |
| Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount | | 26,000,000 | | | | |
| Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired | 70.00% | | | | | |
| Acquired Indefinite and Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount | | $ 68,012,000 | | | | |