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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 2004

OR

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                      TO                     .

Commission File Number: 000-50910

STONEMOR PARTNERS L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(215) 826-2800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ¨ No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x

The number of the registrant’s outstanding common units at November 1, 2004 was 4,239,782.

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Index – Form 10-Q

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Part I – Financial Information

The words “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” and similar words, when used in a historical context prior to the closing of the initial public offering of StoneMor Partners L.P. on September 20, 2004, refer to Cornerstone Family Services, Inc. (and, after its conversion, CFSI LLC) and its subsidiaries and thereafter refer to StoneMor Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including, but not limited to, information regarding the status and progress of the Company’s operating activities, the plans and objectives of the Company’s management, assumptions regarding the Company’s future performance and plans, and any financial guidance provided, as well as certain information in other filings with the SEC and elsewhere are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A(i) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E(i) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continues,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “project”, “expect”, “predict” and similar expressions identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated, including, but not limited to, the following: uncertainties associated with future revenue and revenue growth; the impact of the Company’s significant leverage on its operating plans; the ability of the Company to service its debt; the Company’s ability to attract, train and retain an adequate number of sales people; uncertainties associated with the volume and timing of pre-need sales of cemetery services and products; variances in death rates; variances in the use of cremation; changes in the political or regulatory environments, including potential changes in tax accounting and trusting policies; the Company’s ability to successfully implement a strategic plan relating to producing operating improvement, strong cash flows and further deleveraging; and various other uncertainties associated with the death care industry and the Company’s operations in particular.

When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements set forth in our registration statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the SEC which became effective September 14, 2004. (No. 333-114354) We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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STONEMOR PARTNERS L.P.

Successor to Cornerstone Family Services, Inc. (Predecessor)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share data)

(Unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STONEMOR PARTNERS L.P.

Successor to Cornerstone Family Services, Inc. (Predecessor)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except unit and per unit data)

(Unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STONEMOR PARTNERS L.P.

Successor to Cornerstone Family Services, Inc. (Predecessor)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of

Common Stockholders’ / Partners’ Equity

(In thousands)

See Accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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STONEMOR PARTNERS L.P.

Successor to Cornerstone Family Services, Inc. (Predecessor)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

See Accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Basis of Presentation. On April 2, 2004, StoneMor Partners L.P. (“StoneMor” or the “Partnership”) was created to own and operate the cemetery and funeral home business conducted by Cornerstone Family Services, Inc. (“Cornerstone”) and its subsidiaries. On September 20, 2004, in connection with the initial public offering by the Partnership of common units representing limited partner interests. Cornerstone contributed to the Partnership substantially all of the assets, liabilities and businesses owned and operated by it, and then converted into CFSI LLC, a limited liability company. This transfer represented a reorganization of entities under common control and was recorded at historical cost. In exchange for these assets, liabilities and businesses, CFSI LLC received 564,782 common units and 4,239,782 subordinated units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.

Cornerstone was founded in 1999 by members of our management team and a private equity investment firm, which we refer to as McCown De Leeuw, in order to acquire a group of 123 cemetery properties and 4 funeral homes. Since that time, Cornerstone acquired ten additional cemeteries and one funeral home, built two funeral homes and sold one cemetery.

Interim Financial Data—The interim financial data are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the interim financial data as of September 30, 2004 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods as well as the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46 and 46R (FIN 46R). The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for a full year.

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Initial Public Offering. On September 20, 2004, StoneMor completed its initial public offering of 3,675,000 common units at a price of $20.50 per unit representing a 42.5% interest in us. On September 23, 2004, StoneMor sold an additional 551,250 common units to the underwriters in connection with the exercise of their over-allotment option and redeemed an equal number of common units from CFSI LLC at a cost of $5.3 million, making a total of 4,239,782 common units outstanding. Total gross proceeds from these sales were $86.6 million, before offering costs and underwriting discounts. The net proceeds to the Partnership, after deducting underwriting discounts but before paying offering costs, from these sales of common units was $80.8 million. Concurrent with the initial public offering, the Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiary, StoneMor Operating LLC, and its subsidiaries, all as borrowers, issued and sold $80.0 million in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes in a private placement and entered into a $12.5 million revolving credit facility and a $22.5 million acquisition facility with a group of banks. The net proceeds of the initial public offering and the sale of senior secured notes were used to repay the debt and associated accrued interest of approximately $135.1 million of CFSI LLC and $14.6 million of fees and expenses associated with the initial public offering and the sale of senior secured notes. The remaining funds have been reserved for general partnership purposes, including the construction of mausoleum crypts and lawn crypts and the purchases of equipment needed to install burial vaults. One-half of the net proceeds of the sale of common units upon the exercise of the over-allotment option was used to redeem an equal number of common units from CFSI LLC, and one-half has been reserved for general partnership purposes. The proceeds received by the Partnership and its subsidiaries from the sales of common units and senior secured notes and the use of these proceeds is summarized as follows (in thousands):

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies —Significant accounting policies followed by the Company, as summarized below, are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Principles of Consolidation—The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of each of the Company’s subsidiaries and the operations of 11 managed cemeteries that the Company operates under long-term management contracts. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Prior to March 31, 2004, the cemeteries that the Company operated under long term management contracts were consolidated in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 97-2, Application of FASB Statement No. 94 and APB Opinion No. 16 to Physician Practice Management Entities and Certain Other Entities with Contractual Management Arrangement. Effective March 31, 2004, the Company adopted FIN 46R (see Note 1, Accounting Change). The Company’s historical policy of consolidating these cemeteries did not change with the adoption of FIN 46R.

Total revenues derived from the cemeteries under long term management contracts totaled approximately $14.4 million and $13.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

Cemetery Operations—Sales of at-need cemetery interment rights, merchandise and services are recognized when the service is performed or merchandise is delivered. In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements (SAB No. 101) and the retail land sales provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 66, Accounting for the Sale of Real Estate (SFAS No. 66), revenues from pre-need sales of burial lots and constructed mausoleum crypts and lawn crypts are deferred until at least 10% of the sales price has been collected. At the time of the sale, an allowance for the customer cancellations is established, which reduces the amount of accounts receivable, net and deferred cemetery revenues, net or cemetery revenue recognized, based on management’s estimates of expected cancellations and historical experiences. Historically, the cancelled contracts represent approximately 10% of the pre-need sales (based on contract dollar amounts). Revenues from the pre-need sale of unconstructed mausoleum and lawn crypts are deferred until at least 10% of the sales price has been collected, at which point revenues are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method of accounting, also in accordance with SFAS No. 66. Revenues related to the pre-need sale of merchandise and services are deferred until such merchandise is delivered or such services are performed.

The Company also defers certain pre-need cemetery and prearranged funeral direct obtaining costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of new pre-need cemetery and prearranged funeral business.

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Such costs are accounted for under the provisions of SFAS No. 60, Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises (SFAS No. 60) and are expensed as revenues are recognized.

Costs related to the sales of interment rights include property and other costs related to cemetery development activities that are specifically identified by project. At the completion of a project, costs are charged to operations as revenues are recognized. Costs related to merchandise and services are based on actual costs incurred or estimates of future costs necessary, including provisions for inflation when required.

The Company records a merchandise liability at the time it enters into a pre-need contract with a customer at the estimated cost to purchase the merchandise or provide the service. The merchandise liability is reduced when payment for the merchandise is made by the Company and title to the merchandise is transferred to the customer. Subsequently, the merchandise is either installed or stored, at the direction of the customer, at the vendor’s warehouse or a third-party warehouse at no additional cost to us. The merchandise liability is also reduced when the contracted service is performed by the Company. Allowances for customer cancellations arising from non-payment are provided at the date of sale based upon management’s estimates of expected cancellations and historical experience. Actual cancellation rates in the future may result in a change in estimate. Actual cancellations did not vary significantly from the estimates of expected cancellations at September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2004.

Pursuant to state law, a portion of the proceeds from cemetery merchandise or services sold on a pre-need basis is required to be paid into merchandise trusts. The Company defers investment earnings generated by the assets in these merchandise trusts (including realized gains and losses) until the associated merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. The fair value of the funds held in merchandise trusts at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004 was approximately $113.1 million and $117.6 million, respectively (see Note 5). In accordance with industry practice for periods ending prior to March 31, 2004, the Company did not consolidate these trust funds in the financial statements as the Company was not considered to have complete controlling financial interest in these trusts and the Company did not bear all of the risks and rewards of these trusts’ assets. However, the principal of the funds held in merchandise trusts was reflected during these periods as due from merchandise trusts at cost on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets and the earnings thereon are reflected in deferred cemetery revenues, net until such principal and earnings are recognized as revenues. As of March 31, 2004, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46 and 46R (FIN 46R) which resulted in the consolidation of the merchandise trusts on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at fair value (See Note 1, Accounting Change).

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property is required by state law to be paid into perpetual care trusts. Earnings from the perpetual care trusts are recognized in current cemetery revenues and are used to defray cemetery maintenance costs, which are expensed as incurred. Funds held in perpetual care trusts at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004 were $120.8 million and $124.7 million, respectively (see Note 6). As of December 31, 2003, the principal of such perpetual care trust funds generally cannot be withdrawn by the Company and therefore was not included in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2003. As of March 31, 2004, the Company adopted FIN 46 and FIN 46R which resulted in the consolidation of the perpetual care trusts on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at fair value (See Note 1, Accounting Change).

Cash and Cash Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Concentration of Credit Risk—The Company’s revenues and accounts receivable relate to the sale of products and services to a customer base that is almost entirely concentrated in the states where the Company has cemeteries and funeral homes. The Company extends credit based on an evaluation of a customer’s financial condition and it retains a security interest in any merchandise sold pursuant to the pre-need contracts. The consolidated balance sheets contain a provision for cancellations arising from non-payment in amounts determined based on historical experience and the judgment of Company’s management.

Inventories—Inventories, classified as other current assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, include cemetery and funeral home merchandise and are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined primarily on a specific identification basis on a first-in, first-out basis. Inventories were approximately $0.7 million at December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004.

Cemetery Property—Cemetery property consists of developed and undeveloped cemetery property and constructed mausoleum crypts and lawn crypts and is valued at cost, which is not in excess of market value.

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Property and Equipment—Property and equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred, whereas additions and major replacements are capitalized and depreciation is recorded over their estimated useful lives as follows:

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, depreciation expense was $3.6 million and $3.7 million, respectively.

Deferred Cemetery Revenues, Net—Revenues and all costs (including direct obtaining costs) associated with pre-need sales of cemetery merchandise and services are deferred until the merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. In addition, investment earnings generated by the assets included in the merchandise trusts are deferred until the associated merchandise is delivered or the services are performed. Deferred cemetery revenues, net, also includes deferred revenues from pre-need sales that were entered into by entities prior to the acquisition of those entities by the Company, including entities that were acquired by Cornerstone upon its formation in 1999. The Company provides for a reasonable profit margin for these deferred revenues (deferred margin) to account for the future costs of delivering products and providing services on pre-need contracts that the Company acquired through acquisition. Deferred margin amounts are deferred until the merchandise is delivered or services are performed.

Merchandise Liability—Merchandise liability accounts for merchandise and services that have been contracted for but not yet delivered or performed. This liability is recorded at the estimated cost and is expensed to cost of goods sold as merchandise is delivered and services are performed.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets—The Company monitors the recoverability of long-lived assets, including cemetery property, property and equipment and other assets, based on estimates using factors such as current market value, future asset utilization, business and regulatory climate and future undiscounted cash flow expected to result from the use of the related assets. The Company’s policy is to evaluate an asset for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that a long-lived asset’s carrying value may not be recovered. An impairment charge is recorded to write-down the asset to its fair value if the sum of future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset.

Due From Merchandise Trusts—Monies due from merchandise trusts are stated at cost. (See Note 5)

Income Taxes—The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. The tax effects of temporary differences between income for financial statement and income tax purposes are recognized in the financial statements. The differences arise primarily from receivables and depreciation.

Accounting Change

In January 2003 and December 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 46 and No. 46 revised (FIN 46R), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51. FIN 46 and FIN 46R clarify the application of ARB No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46R further defines the terms related to variable interest entities and clarifies if such entities should be consolidated. FIN 46R applies to enterprises that have a variable interest in variable interest entities and was effective for the first financial reporting period ending after March 15, 2004. The requirements of this interpretation, as revised, were applicable to the Company for the quarter ending March 31, 2004.

The adoption of FIN 46R resulted in the consolidation of the merchandise trusts (including the funeral trusts) and perpetual care trusts in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, but did not change the legal relationships among the merchandise trusts and perpetual care trusts, the Company, and its holders of pre-need contracts. To the extent that the customers are the legal beneficiaries of the merchandise trusts, the Company recognizes a non-controlling interest in merchandise trusts. The principal in the perpetual care trusts is required by state law to be held in perpetuity and is not redeemable by the Company or the customers. Accordingly the equity interest in the perpetual care trusts is presented as a non-controlling interest in perpetual care trusts between the liabilities and stockholders’ equity in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The adoption of FIN 46R did not

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impact the Company’s net income or its consolidated statement of cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities.

Both the merchandise and perpetual care trusts hold investments in marketable securities which have been classified as available-for-sale. In accordance with SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, these investments are recorded at their fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Unrealized gains and losses of the merchandise trusts that are attributable to the Company that have not been earned through the performance of services or delivery of merchandise are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to deferred cemetery revenues, net. Unrealized gains and losses of the merchandise trusts (including the funeral trusts) that are attributable to the non-controlling interest holders are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized as a non-controlling interest in merchandise trusts. Unrealized gains and losses of the perpetual care trusts are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to non-controlling interest in perpetual care trusts.

The Company recognizes realized earnings of the merchandise trusts that are attributable to the Company that have been earned as other income in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. Realized earnings of the merchandise trusts that are attributable to the Company that have not been earned through the performance of services or delivery of merchandise are recorded in deferred cemetery revenues, net, in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. Realized earnings of the merchandise trusts (including the funeral trusts) that are attributable to non-controlling interest holders are recognized as a non-controlling interest in merchandise trusts. To the extent of qualifying cemetery maintenance costs, distributable earnings from the perpetual care trusts are recognized in cemetery revenues; otherwise realized earnings of the perpetual care trusts are recognized in other income.

The cemeteries that the Company operates under long-term management contracts are subject to consolidation in accordance with the provisions of FIN 46R. The Company’s historical policy to consolidate these entities did not change with the adoption of FIN 46R (See Note 1, Principles of Consolidation).

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity. SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances). SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The implementation of SFAS No. 150 had no effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2004, the EITF ratified Issue No. 03-01, “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments” (EITF 03-01). EITF 03-01 provides guidance on the recognition and measurement of other-than-temporary impairments of debt and equity investments and requires certain disclosures related to unrealized losses. The recognition and measurement provisions of EITF 03-01 are effective for reporting periods beginning after June 15, 2004. The FASB has proposed FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) 03-1-a which provides guidance for the application paragraph 16 of EITF 03-1 to debt securities that are impaired because of interest rate and/or sector spread increases. In September 2004, the FASB issued FSP 03-1-1 to delay the effective date for the measurement and recognition guidance contained in paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue 03-1. This delay does not suspend the requirement to recognize other-than-temporary impairments as required by existing authoritative literature. During the period of the delay, an entity holding investments should continue to apply relevant “other-than-temporary” guidance, such as paragraph 16 of FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, including the guidance referenced in footnote 4 of that paragraph, paragraph 6 of APB Opinion No. 18, The Equity Method of Accounting for Investments in Common Stock, and EITF Issue No. 99-20, “Recognition of Interest Income and Impairment on Purchased and Retained Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets,” as applicable. The delay of the effective date for paragraphs 10-20 of Issue 03-1 will be superseded concurrent with the final issuance of FSP EITF Issue 03-1-a. The disclosure guidance in paragraphs 21 and 22 of EITF Issue 03-1 remains effective. The adoption of EITF 03-01 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Use of Estimates—Preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of

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contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting periods. As a result, actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates in the financial statements are the allowance for cancellations, merchandise liability, deferred margin, deferred merchandise trust investment earnings, deferred obtaining costs and income taxes. Deferred margin, deferred merchandise trust investment earnings and deferred obtaining costs are included in deferred cemetery revenues, net, on the consolidated balance sheets.

Reclassifications—Certain amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements for prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting and Related Information—The Company has one reportable segment, death care services.

Disclosure of reported segment revenue:

Long-term accounts receivable, net, consist of the following:

Activity in the allowance for contract cancellations is as follows:

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Cemetery property consists of the following:

Major classes of property and equipment follow:

Cemetery—In connection with the pre-need sale of cemetery interment rights, merchandise and services, the customer typically enters into an installment contract with the Company. The contract is usually for a period not to exceed 60 months with payments of principal and interest required. Interest is imputed for contracts that do not bear a market rate of interest (at a rate of 5.75% during the year ended December 31, 2003 and during the nine months ended September 30, 2004). The Company establishes an allowance for cancellations due to non-payment at the date of sale based on historic experience and management’s estimates. The allowance is reviewed quarterly and changes in estimates are reflected for current and prior contracts as a result of recent cancellation experience. Actual cancellation rates in the future may result in a change in estimate.

The Company evaluates the collectibility of the assets held in merchandise trusts for impairment when the fair values of the assets are below the recorded asset balance. Assets are deemed to be impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts from the merchandise trust at the time such amounts are due. In those instances when the amount is deemed to be impaired, the merchandise trust is reduced to the currently estimated recoverable amount with a corresponding reduction to the associated deferred cemetery revenues balance. There is no income statement impact as long as deferred revenues are not below the estimated costs to deliver the underlying products or services. If the deferred revenue were to decrease below the estimated cost to deliver the underlying products or services, the Company would record a charge to earnings.

Amounts in merchandise trust receivable represent the current portion of the amounts in the merchandise trusts.

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At December 31, 2003 the cost and market value associated with the assets held in merchandise trusts follows:

At March 31, 2004, in accordance with FIN 46R, the Company consolidated the merchandise trusts. As a result the Company recorded the merchandise trusts as trust investments by reclassifying the amounts previously in “merchandise trust receivable,” approximately $2.6 million at March 31, 2004, and “due from merchandise trusts,” approximately $112.3 million at March 31, 2004, into “merchandise trusts, restricted, at fair value.” Additionally, the Company increased the “merchandise trusts, restricted, at fair value” account by $5.2 million to reflect the previously unrecognized net unrealized gains on investments held by the merchandise trusts as of March 31, 2004. The offset to this amount was initially recorded in other comprehensive income and then reclassified to deferred revenues.

At September 30, 2004, the cost and market value associated with the assets held in merchandise trusts follows:

An aging of unrealized losses on the Company’s investments in fixed maturities and equity securities at September 30, 2004 is presented below:

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The Company considers various factors when considering if a decline in fair value of an asset is other than temporary, including but not limited to the length of time and magnitude of the unrealized loss; the volatility of the investment; the credit ratings of the issuers of the investments; and the Company’s intentions to sell or ability to hold the investments. At September 30, 2004, the Company has concluded that the declines in the fair values of the Company’s investments in fixed maturities and equity securities held by the merchandise trusts are temporary.

At December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2004, realized investment earnings related to funds held in merchandise trusts that were deferred were $16.9 million, and $20.0 million, respectively. The realized investment earnings recognized in the consolidated statements of operations as cemetery revenues related to these merchandise trusts were $3.0 million and $3.3 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

Funeral Home—Prearranged funeral home services provide for future funeral home services generally determined by prices prevailing at the time that the contract is signed. A portion of the payments made under funeral home pre-need contracts is placed in funeral trusts. Amounts used to defray the initial cost of administration are not placed in trust. The balance of the amounts in the trusts totaled approximately $0.7 million at December 31, 2003, and approximately $0.8 million at September 30, 2004 and are included within the merchandise trusts above. Funeral trust principal, together with investment earnings retained in trust, are deferred until the service is performed. Upon performance of the contracted funeral home service, the Company recognizes the funeral trust principal amount together with the accumulated trust earnings as funeral home revenues.

At December 31, 2003, the perpetual care trusts, which are not reflected on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, are stated at estimated fair value and were composed of the following investment categories (in thousands):

At March 31, 2004, in accordance with FIN 46R, the Company consolidated the perpetual care trusts. As a result, the Company now records the perpetual care trusts, at fair value, as trust investments.

At September 30, 2004 the cost and market value associated with the assets held in perpetual care trust follows: