Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,863,842	$ 1,805,981
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,863,842
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	1,455	68,195
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(5,490)	(2,207)
Effect of foreign currency and other	4,416	(8,127)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	381	57,861
Goodwill, ending balance		1,863,842	$ 1,805,981
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,864,223	1,863,842
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	3,400
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	110,205	129,591
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Future Total	31,377
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	400,052	415,024
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	289,847	285,433
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	110,205	129,591
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	310,197	293,474
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	10,765	10,765
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	320,962	304,239
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	431,167	433,830
Amortization of intangibles	25,649	26,195	27,650
Future Amortization Expense, Year One	7,239
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two	7,140
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three	5,975
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four	5,584
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five	5,439
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	3,400
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	216,646	215,424
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	198,610	195,536
Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	149,479	158,347
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	83,047	75,199
Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	7,000	16,150
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	123	9,194
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	26,927	25,103
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	8,067	5,504
Funeral [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,528,407	1,499,741
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,528,407
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	7,458	38,976
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(5,003)	(2,183)
Effect of foreign currency and other	4,416	(8,127)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	6,871	28,666
Goodwill, ending balance		1,528,407	1,499,741
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,535,278	1,528,407
Amortization of intangibles	15,343	17,515	17,871
Cemetery [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	335,435	306,240
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	335,435
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	(6,003)	29,219
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(487)	(24)
Effect of foreign currency and other	0	0
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	(6,490)	29,195
Goodwill, ending balance		335,435	306,240
Goodwill, net, ending balance	328,945	335,435
Amortization of intangibles	$ 10,297	$ 8,619	$ 9,696
Minimum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	10 years
Minimum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	89 years
Maximum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	89 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	89 years