Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	$ 258,950	$ 248,406	$ 506,134	$ 475,349
Total services revenues	286,061	280,030	591,568	561,005
Other revenues	31,763	26,837	58,771	49,782
Total revenues	576,774	555,273	1,156,473	1,086,136
Total cost of merchandise	120,037	116,485	243,616	227,281
Total cost of services	151,343	140,378	293,780	268,871
Overhead and other expenses	190,371	189,112	377,608	368,328
Total costs and expenses	461,751	445,975	915,004	864,480
Funeral [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	124,877	124,712	257,140	244,471
Total services revenues	235,607	234,237	491,892	467,953
Total cost of merchandise	63,369	62,579	133,383	127,474
Total cost of services	125,902	116,524	243,840	220,763
Cemetery [Member]
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	134,073	123,694	248,994	230,878
Total services revenues	50,454	45,793	99,676	93,052
Total cost of merchandise	56,668	53,906	110,233	99,807
Total cost of services	$ 25,441	$ 23,854	$ 49,940	$ 48,108