The maximum maturity (in months) of investments that are considered to be cash equivalents.

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- Definition

The number of memorials held in storage under the pre-need sales program.

+ Details

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- Definition

The number of vases held in storage under the pre-need sales program.

+ Details

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- Definition

The period past due (in days) for which a finance charge may be applied to trade receivables.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

The maximum useful life of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6904245&loc=d3e15217-109273

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section 35

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6904245&loc=d3e15300-109273

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6904245&loc=d3e15211-109273

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- Definition

The minimum useful life of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company.

+ References

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

The maximum useful life of long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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- Definition

The minimum useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include land, buildings, machinery and equipment, and other types of furniture and equipment including, but not limited to, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment and software.

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- Details

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- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 985

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420194&loc=d3e21568-108373

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph g

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 2

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 86

-Paragraph 11, 12

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Maximum maturity of investments considered to be cash equivalents (in months)	3M
Trade Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract]
Period past due for which a finance charge may be applied (in days)	30D
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Useful lives of intangibles, minimum (in years)	2
Useful lives of intangibles, maximum (in years)	20
Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Number of pre-need sales of memorials	333,174
Number of pre-need sales of vases	236,460
Research and Development Expenses [Abstract]
Research and development costs	$ 1,705	$ 1,910	$ 2,200
Buildings [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of assets, minimum (in years)	10
Estimated useful lives of assets, maximum (in years)	45
Machinery and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Estimated useful lives of assets, minimum (in years)	3
Estimated useful lives of assets, maximum (in years)	12