Document:

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                                 Exhibit 10.23
                                 -------------

                   RESIGNATION AND GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT
                   -----------------------------------------

     This Resignation and General Release Agreement ("Agreement"), made this
14th day of December, 2000, by and between Gary Baker ("Baker") an individual,
and Rose Hills Company, a corporation ("Rose Hills"), is a resignation agreement
which includes a general release of claims.

     In consideration of the covenants undertaken and the releases contained in
this Agreement, Baker and Rose Hills agree as follows:

     1. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Baker shall
voluntarily resign from his position as Senior Vice President - Mortuary
Operations, and as an employee of Rose Hills in any other capacity by executing
Exhibit A attached hereto, such resignation to be effective January 3, 2001.
Rose Hills hereby accepts Baker's resignation.

     2. Rose Hills shall pay to Baker severance equal to one year's base pay
($131,250) plus a liquidated amount of $6,900.00, which constitutes a good faith
estimate of Baker's predicted override bonus for 2001. All payments hereunder
are stated as gross amount and will be subject to standard withholding and
authorized deductions. That sum ($138,150 minus withholding and authorized
deductions) shall be paid on Baker's last day of employment, January 3, 2001.
Baker will continue to be eligible for his bonus for 2000 as set forth in his
Employment Agreement, on the terms set forth therein. In addition, Rose Hills
shall pay to Baker monies, if any, to which he would have been entitled under
the Rose Hills Company Phantom Equity Appreciation Plan as of
<PAGE>

December 31, 2000, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in such Plan.
Rose Hills will pay for the actual cost of outplacement services for Baker, upon
submission of acceptable documentation, at an amount not to exceed $25,000. Rose
Hills will also purchase Baker's currently leased company vehicle and give title
of the vehicle, currently valued at approximately $21,629.22, to him. Rose Hills
will further pay for twelve months of COBRA coverage for Baker, not to exceed
$248.75 per month.

     3.  Rose Hills expressly denies any violation of any of its policies,
procedures, state or federal laws or regulations.  Accordingly, while this
Agreement resolves all issues between Baker and Rose Hills relating to any
alleged violation of Rose Hills' policies or procedures or any state or federal
law or regulation, this Agreement does not constitute an adjudication or finding
on the merits and it is not, and shall not be construed as, an admission by Rose
Hills of any violation of its policies, procedures, state or federal laws or
regulations.  Moreover, neither this Agreement nor anything in this Agreement
shall be construed to be or shall be admissible in any proceeding as evidence of
or an admission by Rose Hills of any violation of its policies, procedures,
state or federal laws or regulations.  This Agreement may be introduced,
however, in any proceeding to enforce the Agreement.  Such introduction shall be
pursuant to an order protecting its confidentiality.

      4. Except for those obligations created by or arising out of this
Agreement, Baker on behalf of himself, his descendants, dependents, heirs,
executors, administrators, assigns, and successors, and each of them, hereby
covenants not to sue and fully releases and discharges Rose Hills, and its
parent, subsidiaries and affiliates, past and present, and each of them, as well
as its and their trustees, directors, officers, agents, attorneys, insurers,
employees, shareholders, stockholders, representatives, assigns, and successors,
past and present, and each of them, hereinafter together and collectively
referred to as

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<PAGE>

"Releasees," with respect to and from any and all claims, wages,
demands, rights, liens, agreements, contracts, covenants, actions, suits, causes
of action, obligations, debts, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, damages,
judgments, orders and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or
otherwise, whether now known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, and whether
or not concealed or hidden, which he now owns or holds or he has at any time
heretofore owned or held or may in the future hold as against said Releasees,
arising out of or in any way connected with his employment relationship with
Rose Hills, or his voluntary resignation from employment or any other
transactions, occurrences, acts or omissions or any loss, damage or injury
whatever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, resulting from any act or
omission by or on the part of said Releasees, or any of them, committed or
omitted prior to the date of this Agreement including, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, any claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with
Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the California Fair
Employment and Housing Act, the California Family Rights Act, or any claim for
severance pay, bonus, sick leave, holiday pay, vacation pay, life insurance,
health or medical insurance or any other fringe benefit, workers' compensation
or disability, except that this Agreement shall not affect Baker's vested right
to payment under the Retirement Plan for Rose Hills Employees and the Company's
401(k) Plan.

     5.  It is the intention of Baker in executing this instrument that the same
shall be effective as a bar to each and every claim, demand and cause of action
hereinabove specified.  In furtherance of this intention,  Baker hereby
expressly waives any and all rights and benefits conferred upon his by the
provisions of SECTION 1542 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE and expressly consents
that this Agreement shall be given full force and effect according to each and
all of its express terms and provisions, including those related to unknown and
unsuspected claims, demands and causes of

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action, if any, as well as those relating to any other claims, demands and
causes of action hereinabove specified. SECTION 1542 provides:

          "A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES
          NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
          RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS
          SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR."

Baker acknowledges that he may hereafter discover claims or facts in addition to
or different from those which Baker now knows or believes to exist with respect
to the subject matter of this Agreement and which, if known or suspected at the
time of executing this Agreement, may have materially affected this settlement.
Nevertheless, Baker hereby waives any right, claim or cause of action that might
arise as a result of such different or additional claims or facts.  Baker
acknowledges that he understands the significance and consequence of such
release and such specific waiver of SECTION 1542.

     6.  Baker expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by entering into this
Agreement, he is waiving any and all rights or claims that he may have arising
under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, which have
arisen on or before the date of execution of this Agreement.  Baker further
expressly acknowledges and agrees that:

          a.  In return for this Agreement, he will receive compensation beyond
          that which he was already entitled to receive before entering into
          this Agreement;

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          b.  He was orally advised and is hereby advised in writing by this
          Agreement to consult with an attorney before signing this Agreement;

          c.  He was given a copy of this Agreement on November 29, 2000, and
          informed that he had 21 days within which to consider the Agreement;
          and

          d.  He was informed that he has seven (7) days following the date of
          execution of the Agreement in which to revoke the Agreement.

     7. Baker acknowledges that by reason of his position with Rose Hills he has
been given access to lists of customers, prices, and similar confidential or
proprietary materials or information respecting Rose Hills' business affairs.
Baker represents that he has held all such information confidential and will
continue to do so, and that he will not use such information and relationships
for any business (which term herein includes a partnership, firm, corporation or
any others entity) without the prior written consent of Rose Hills.

     8. Baker and Rose Hills agree that the terms and conditions of this
Agreement shall remain confidential as between the parties and neither shall
disclose them to any others person, subject to the terms of this paragraph.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither Baker nor Rose Hills
will respond to or in any way participate in or contribute to any public
discussion, notice or others publicity concerning, or in any way relating to,
execution of this Agreement or the events (including any negotiations) which led
to its execution. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Baker
specifically agrees that he shall not disclose information regarding this
Agreement to any current or former employee of Releasees. Baker hereby agrees
that disclosure by his of any of the terms and conditions of the Agreement in
violation of the foregoing shall constitute and

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be treated as a material breach of this Agreement. The only exceptions to the
obligations imposed by this paragraph are that Baker may disclose the terms of
this settlement to his immediate family, tax and financial advisors and legal
counselors, and Rose Hills may disclose the terms of the settlement to anyone it
reasonably believes necessary to effectuate the terms of this Agreement.

     9. Baker and Rose Hills each warrant and represent that neither has
heretofore assigned or transferred to any person not a party to this Agreement
any released matter or any part or portion thereof and each shall defend,
indemnify and hold harmless the others from and against any claim (including the
payment of attorneys' fees and costs actually incurred whether or not litigation
is commenced) based on or in connection with or arising out of any such
assignment or transfer made, purported or claimed.

     10.  Baker and Rose Hills acknowledge that any employment or contractual
relationship between them terminated on January 3, 2001, and that they have no
further employment or contractual relationship except as may arise out of this
Agreement and that Baker waives any right or claim to reinstatement as an
employee of Rose Hills and will not seek employment in the future with Rose
Hills or any Releasee.

     11. Baker agrees that he shall be exclusively liable for the payment of all
federal and state taxes which may be due as the result of the consideration
received from the settlement of disputed claims as set forth herein and Baker
hereby represents that he shall make payments on such taxes at the time and in
the amount required. In addition, Baker hereby agrees fully to defend, indemnify
and hold harmless Releasees and each of them from payment of taxes, interest
and/or penalties that are required of them by any government agency at any time
as the result of payment of the consideration set forth herein.

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<PAGE>

     12. This instrument constitutes and contains the entire agreement and final
understanding concerning Baker's employment, voluntary resignation from the same
and the others subject matters addressed herein between the parties. It is
intended by the parties as a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of
their agreement. It supersedes and replaces all prior negotiations and all
agreements proposed or otherwise, whether written or oral, concerning the
subject matters hereof. Any representation, promise or agreement not
specifically included in this Agreement shall not be binding upon or enforceable
against either party. This is a fully integrated agreement.

     13. Either Baker or Rose Hills may revoke this Agreement in its entirety
during the seven (7) days following execution of the Agreement by Baker. Any
revocation of the Agreement must be in writing and hand delivered during the
revocation period. This Agreement will become effective and enforceable seven
(7) days following execution by Baker, unless it is revoked during the seven-day
period.

     14.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof is held
invalid, the invalidity shall not affect others provisions or applications of
the Agreement which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or
applications and to this end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be
severable.

     15. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been executed and delivered
within the State of California, and the rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by,
the laws of the State of California without regard to principles of conflict of
laws.

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     16.  Each party has cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this
Agreement.  Hence, in any construction to be made of this Agreement, the same
shall not be construed against any party on the basis that the party was the
drafter.

     17. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each counterpart,
when executed, shall have the efficacy of a signed original. Photographic copies
of such signed counterparts may be used in lieu of the originals for any
purpose.

     18. Any dispute or controversy between Baker, on the one hand, and Rose
Hills (or any others Releasee), on the others hand, in any way arising out of,
related to, or connected with this Agreement or the subject matter thereof, or
otherwise in any way arising out of, related to, or connected with Baker's
employment with Rose Hills or the termination of Baker's employment with Rose
Hills shall be resolved through final and binding arbitration in Los Angeles,
California, pursuant to California Civil Procedure Code (S)(S) 1282-1284.2. In
the event of such arbitration, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover
all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by such party in connection
therewith, including attorneys' fees. The nonprevailing party shall also be
solely responsible for all costs of the arbitration, including, but not limited
to, the arbitrator's fees, court reporter fees, and any and all others
administrative costs of the arbitration, and promptly shall reimburse the
prevailing party for any portion of such costs previously paid by the prevailing
party. Any dispute as to the reasonableness of costs and expenses shall be
determined by the arbitrator.

     Except as may be necessary to enter judgment upon the award or to the
extent required by applicable law, all claims, defenses and proceedings
(including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the existence of
the controversy and the fact that there is an arbitration proceeding) shall be
treated in a confidential manner by the

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arbitrator, the parties and their counsel, and each of their agents, and
employees and all others acting on behalf of or in concert with them. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, no one shall divulge to any third
party or person not directly involved in the arbitration the contents of the
pleadings, papers, orders, hearings, trials, or awards in the arbitration,
except as may be necessary to enter judgment upon an award as required by
applicable law. Any court proceedings relating to the arbitration hereunder,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to prevent or
compel arbitration or to confirm, correct, vacate or otherwise enforce an
arbitration award, shall be filed under seal with the court, to the extent
permitted by law.

     19. No waiver of any breach of any term or provision of this Agreement
shall be construed to be, or shall be, a waiver of any others breach of this
Agreement. No waiver shall be binding unless in writing and signed by the party
waiving the breach.

     20. In entering this Agreement, the parties represent that they have relied
upon the advice of their attorneys, who are attorneys of their own choice, and
that the terms of this Agreement have been completely read and explained to them
by their attorneys, and that those terms are fully understood and voluntarily
accepted by them.

     21. All parties agree to cooperate fully and to execute any and all
supplementary documents and to take all additional actions that may be necessary
or appropriate to give full force to the basic terms and intent of this
Agreement and which are not inconsistent with its terms.

     I have read the foregoing Agreement and I accept and agree to the
provisions it contains and hereby execute it voluntarily with full understanding
of its consequences.

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     I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
California that the foregoing is true and correct.

          EXECUTED this 14th day of December, 2000, at Los Angeles County,
California.

                                 /S/ Gary Baker
                                 --------------
                                   GARY BAKER

Approved as to content and form:

_______________________________

By:
     ____________________________

     ----------------------------

Attorneys for Gary Baker

          EXECUTED this 14th day of December, 2000, at Los Angeles County,
California.

                              ROSE HILLS COMPANY

                              By: /S/ Virginia C. Phillips

Approved as to content and form:

O'MELVENY & MYERS LLP
CATHERINE B. HAGEN

By: /s/ Catherine B. Hagen
   -------------------------------
   Catherine B. Hagen
   Attorneys for Rose Hills Company

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                           ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND WAIVER
                           -------------------------

     I, Gary Baker, hereby acknowledge that I was given 21 days to consider the
foregoing Agreement and voluntarily chose to sign the Agreement prior to the
expiration of the 21-day period.

     I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of
California that the foregoing is true and correct.

          EXECUTED this 14th day of December, 2000, at Los Angeles County,
California.

                                             /S/ Gary Baker
                                -----------------------------------------
                                                GARY BAKER
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A
                                   ---------

Dillis Ward
President
Rose Hills Company

December 14, 2000

Dear Dillis:

     This is to advise you that effective January 3, 2001, I hereby voluntarily
resign my position as Senior Vice President - Mortuary Operations, and any other
capacity with Rose Hills Company and will not seek reemployment with Rose Hills
Company or any related entity.

                              Sincerely yours,

                              /S/ Gary Baker
                              -------------------------------------------
                                              Gary Baker<PAGE>

                                 Exhibit 10.24
                                 -------------

                               ROSE HILLS COMPANY
                        Phantom Equity Appreciation Plan

          SECTION 1.  Purpose.  The purpose of this Rose Hills Company Phantom
                      -------
Equity Appreciation Plan is to promote the interests of the Company and its
stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional officers and other key
employees and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates; (ii) motivating
such individuals to maximize stockholder value by awarding bonus opportunities
based upon future appreciation in the value of the Company.

          SECTION 2.  Definitions.  As used in the Plan, the following terms
                      -----------
shall have the meanings set forth below:

               "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or
     indirectly, is controlled by, or controls or is under common control with,
     the Company and (ii) any equity in which the Company has a significant
     equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.

          "Award" shall mean any bonus award made under Section 6 of the Plan.

          "Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract, or other
     instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be
     executed or acknowledged by a Participant.

          "Base Amount" shall mean the product of the Company's EBITDA for 1997
     multiplied by six minus the sum of (i) the Company's total long term and
     short term liabilities, (ii) capital lease payments and (iii) payments to
     former owners of the Company (each as reflected on the Company's 1997 year-
     end balance sheet).

            .  "Consolidated Cash Flow" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
               the Indenture dated November 15, 1996, between the Rose Hills
               Company and United States Trust Company of New York, as trustee.

            .  "Consolidated EBITDA for 1997 and 1999" shall be reduced by the
               pro forma effect of the Securities and Exchange Commission's
               Staff Accounting Bulletin 101. Consolidated EBITDA for 1999 shall
               be reduced by revenue recognized pursuant to the Buddhist Complex
               Development and Use Agreement.

            .  "EBITDA" shall mean, for any period the amount of Consolidated
               Cash Flow calculated for the Rose Hills Company on a consolidated
               basis for the relevant period less the effect of changes in
               accounting subsequent to 1999.

          "Beneficial Owner" shall mean a "beneficial owner", as such term is
     defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule
     thereto).

                                       1
<PAGE>

          "Blackstone" shall mean Blackstone Capital Partners II Merchant
     Banking Fund L.P., Blackstone Offshore Capital Partners II L.P. and
     Blackstone Family Investment Partnership II L.P.

          "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

          "Bonus Pool" has the meaning specified in Section 5(a).

          "Cause" shall mean "Cause" as defined in any employment agreement in
     effect between a Participant and the Company at the time of determination
     or, if not defined therein or if there shall be no such agreement, then (i)
     conviction of the Participant, by a court of competent jurisdiction of, or
     Participant's plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony under the laws
     of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) misappropriation by the
     Participant of the Company's funds; (iii) willful misconduct or gross
     negligence by the Participant in the performance of the Participant's
     duties to the Company that is materially detrimental to the Company; or
     (iv) the commission by the Participant of an act of proven fraud with
     respect to the Company.

          "Change in Control" shall mean (i) the sale or disposition, in one or
     a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets
     of the Company to any "person" or "group" (as such terms are defined in
     Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) or (ii) any person or
     group, which is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
     more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company,
     including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise.  An ownership by
     Loewen and/or its affiliates of greater than 50% of the voting stock of the
     Company or a control by Loewen and/or its affiliates of the Company's Board
     shall be automatically deemed a Change of  Control.

          "Committee" shall mean a committee of the Board designated by the
     Board to administer the Plan, consisting of one representative of Loewen,
     one representative of Blackstone, and one representative of Rose Hills
     Company's management.  The initial representatives shall be Michael Weedon,
     Chinh Chu, and Dillis Ward, with Chinh Chu acting as Chair.

          "Company" shall mean Rose Hills Company, together with any successor
     thereto.

          "Disability" shall mean "Disability" as defined in any employment
     agreement in effect between a Participant and the Company at the time of
     determination or, if not defined therein or if there shall be no such
     agreement, then the inability of the Participant to perform his duties to
     the Company on account of physical or mental illness for a period of six
     (6) consecutive full months, or for a period of nine (9) full months during
     any eighteen (18) month period.

          "Effective Date" shall mean January 1, 2000.

          "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          "Fair Market Value" shall mean, on a given date, (i) if there should
     be a public market for the Shares on such date, the arithmetic mean of the
     high and low prices of the Shares as reported on such date on the Composite
     Tape of either National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
     Quotation National Market System, New York Stock Exchange, American Stock
     Exchange, on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or, if no
     Composite Tape exists for such national securities exchange on such date,
     then on the principal national securities exchange on which such Shares are
     listed or admitted to trading, or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted
     on a national securities exchange, the arithmetic mean of the per Share
     closing bid price and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted
     on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
     System (or such market in which such prices are regularly quoted), or if no
     sale of Shares shall have been reported on such Composite Tape or such
     national securities exchange on such date as quoted on the National
     Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (or such
     market in which such prices are regularly quoted), or if no sale of Shares
     shall have been reported on such Composite Tape or such national securities
     exchange on such date or quoted on the National Association of Securities
     Dealer Automated Quotation System on such date, then the immediately
     preceding on which sales of the Shares have been so reported or quoted
     shall be used, and (ii) if there should not be a public market for the
     Shares on such date, the Fair Market Value shall be the value established
     by the Board in good faith.

          "Good Reason" shall mean "Good Reason" as defined in any employment
     agreement in effect between a Participant and the Company at the time of
     determination or, if not defined therein or if there shall be no such
     agreement, then, the Company's failure to pay a Participant, when due, any
     material amount of compensation otherwise payable to such Participant,
     which failure is not cured by the Company within 30 days following the
     Company's receipt of written notice from the Participant describing such
     failure.

          "Loewen" shall mean Loewen Group International and The Loewen Group,
     Inc.

          "Participant" shall mean any individual designated in Section 4 as
     being eligible for an Award under Section 6 and selected by the Committee
     to receive an Award under the Plan.

          "Payment Date" shall mean the date on which a Participant is entitled
     to receive a payment in respect of the Vested Portion of an Award pursuant
     to the terms of an Award Agreement.

          "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
     association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
     government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

          "Plan" shall mean this Rose Hills Company Phantom Equity Appreciation
     Plan.

          "Realization Amount" shall mean the product of the Company's EBITDA
     for calendar year ending immediately prior to the Realization Date
     multiplied by six minus the sum of (i) the Company's total long term and
     short term liabilities, (ii) capital lease payments and (iii)

                                       3
<PAGE>

     payments to former owners of the Company (each as reflected on the
     Company's year-end balance sheet for the calendar year ending immediately
     prior to the Realization Date).

          "Realization Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) the fourth
     anniversary of the Effective Date or (ii) a Change in Control.

          "Shares" shall mean the common shares of the Company, [$.01] par
     value, or such other securities of the Company into which such common
     shares shall be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger,
     consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of share or other similar
     transaction.

          "Vested Portion" has the meaning specified in Section 6(b).

          SECTION 3.  Administration.
                      --------------

          (a)  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Subject to the
 terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers
 and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall
 have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine
 the terms and conditions of any Award consistent with the provisions of the
 Plan, (iii) waive any terms or conditions of an Award (including, without
 limitation, accelerating or waiving any vesting conditions); (iv) determine
 whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or
 exercised in cash, Shares, or other securities, other Awards or other property,
 or canceled forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards
 may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (v) interpret,
 administer reconcile any inconsistency, correct any default and/or supply any
 omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made
 under, the Plan; (vi) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and
 regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper
 administration of the Plan; and (vii) make any other determination and take any
 other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the
 administration of the Plan.

          (b) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the plan, all designations,
determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to
the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may
be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all
Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or
beneficiary of any Award, and any shareholder.

          (c)  No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or
 determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award
 hereunder.

          SECTION 4.  Eligibility.  Any officer or other key employee or
                      -----------
consultant to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any prospective
officer, key employee or consultant) shall be eligible to be designated a
Participant.

          SECTION 5.  Bonus Pool.
                      ----------

                                       4
<PAGE>

          (a)  The Company shall establish a bonus pool (the "Bonus Pool") the
aggregate amount of which shall be equal ten (10) percent of the excess of (i)
the Realization Amount over the (ii) the Base Amount. The amount of the Bonus
Pool shall be calculated on the Realization Date and shall be subject to payment
in respect of the Vested Portion of the Awards pursuant to Section 6(d).

          (b)  Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan to the contrary, in
the event that the Committee determines that any extraordinary dividend or other
distribution, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, issuance
of warrants, sale of Company securities or other similar corporate transactions
or event affects the Company such that an adjustment is determined by the
Committee in good faith to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the benefits or potential benefit intended to be made available
under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem
equitable, adjust the manner in which the Bonus Pool shall be calculated for
purposes of the Plan.

          SECTION 6.  Awards
                      ------

          (a) Grant and Form of Awards.  From time to time, prior to the
              ------------------------
Realization Date, the Committee may make Awards to Participants under the Plan
which shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Awards may be expressed as a
right, subject to satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the Award, to
receive a stipulated percentage of the Bonus Pool, a specific dollar amount, or
an amount derivable by formula (as applicable, the "Bonus Opportunity");
provided that in no event may the aggregate of all Bonus Opportunities (i.e.,
dollar amount potentially receivable under all Awards issued under the Plan)
exceed 100% of the Bonus Pool.  In the event that all or any portion of an Award
is forfeited, the amount potentially receivable under the portion of such
forfeited Award shall cease to constitute a part of the Bonus Pool and shall not
increase the amount otherwise payable to any other Participant.

          (a)  Vesting of Awards.  Awards shall be subject to such vesting and
                -----------------
 other conditions as may be established by the Committee in the Award Agreement
 evidencing such Award.  The portion of an Award which becomes vested as set
 forth in an Award Agreement (or as otherwise provided by the Committee) is
 herein referred to as the "Vested Portion."

          (b)   Effect of Termination of Employment.  Notwithstanding any other
                -----------------------------------
 provision of the Plan, in the event of a Participant's termination of
 employment for any reason, the unvested portion of the Award, if any, shall be
 forfeited, but the Participant shall continue to be entitled to payment in
 respect of the Vested Portion of the Award on the Payment Date.

          (c)  Payment of Awards.  The Vested Portion of any Award not
               -----------------
previously forfeited by a Participant shall be valued on the Realization Date
based upon the amount of the Bonus Pool and the Participant's Bonus Opportunity
and shall be paid to such Participant as promptly as practicable following the
Realization Date.

          (d)  Form of Payment.  Payment in respect of the Awards may be paid
               ---------------
in cash or previously Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to the cash
otherwise payable with respect to such Award, provided, however, the Company
will use its best efforts to pay the awards in cash. Any Participant receiving
Shares shall, as a condition to receiving Shares, execute a shareholders
agreement which in

                                       5
<PAGE>

form and substance shall be reasonably acceptable to the Committee and shall
include, without limitation, transfer restrictions, Company call rights, "drag
along" rights, and piggyback registration rights with respect to such Shares.

          (e)  Events of Default.  In the event that payment by the Company in
               -----------------
respect of any Award (or portion thereof) would constitute an event of default
for purposes of any Company credit facility or other indebtedness then
outstanding or would cause the Company to suffer a substantial financial
hardship, as the Committee shall in its good faith discretion determine, the
Company shall have the right to (i) delay payment in respect of such Awards
until twenty (20) days following the date on which such default or substantial
financial hardship ceases to exist and (ii) satisfy its payment obligations in
respect of such Award by delivery of a subordinated promissory note, payable
over five years and bearing interest at the prime rate of interest as in effect
on the Realization Date.

          SECTION 7.  Amendment and Termination.
                      -------------------------

          (a) Amendment to the Plan.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend,
              ---------------------
discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided
that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination
shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to
comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan and
provided, further, that any such amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuance or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or
any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that
extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or
beneficiary.

          (b)  Amendments to Awards.  The Committee may waive any conditions or
               --------------------
rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or
terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively,
provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension,
discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would impair the rights of any
Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall
not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant,
holder or beneficiary.

          SECTION 8.  General Provisions.
                      ------------------

          (a) Nontransferability.  No Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged,
              ------------------
attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported
assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall
be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that
the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation,
pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.

          (b) No Rights to Awards.  No Participant or other Person shall have
              -------------------
any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of
treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.  The terms and
conditions of Awards and the Committee's determinations and interpretations with
respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether
or not such Participants are similarly situated).

                                       6
<PAGE>

          (c)  Share Certificates.  All certificates for Shares or other
               ------------------
securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to
any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders
and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the
rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, any stock exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are
then listed and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may
cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate
reference to such restrictions.

          (d)  Withholding.  A Participant may be required to pay to the
               -----------
Company or any Affiliate and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right
and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or
transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or
other amount owing to a participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other
securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding taxes
in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award
or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the
opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.

          (e)  Award Agreements.  Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by
               ----------------
an Award Agreement which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify
the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto,
including but not limited to the effect on such Award of the death, disability
or termination of employment or service of a Participant and the effect, if any,
of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.

          (f)  No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements.  Nothing contained
               -------------------------------------------
in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or
continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not,
provide for the grant of options, restricted stock, Shares and other types of
Awards provided for hereunder (subject to shareholder approval if such approval
is required), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases.

          (g)  No Right to Employment.  The grant of an Award shall not be
               ----------------------
construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of, or
in any consulting relationship to, the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the
Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or
discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim
under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award
Agreement.

          (h)  No Rights as Stockholder.  Subject to the provisions of the
               ------------------------
applicable Award, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall
have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares to be distributed
under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares.

          (i)  Governing Law.  The validity, construction, and effect of the
               -------------
Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement
shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,
without regard to conflict of laws provisions thereof.

                                       7
<PAGE>

          (j)  Severability.  If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or
               ------------
becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any
Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be
construed or deemed amended to conform the applicable laws, or if it cannot be
construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee,
materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be
stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan
and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

          (k)  Other Laws.  The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any
               ----------
Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion,
it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other
consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the
Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any
payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in
connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the
relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell
securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and
until the Committee in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer,
if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S.
federal securities laws.

          (l)  No Trust or Fund Created.  Neither the Planner nor any Award
               -------------------------
shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a
fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or
any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive
payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right
shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the
Company or any Affiliate.

          (m)  No Fractional Shares.  No fractional Shares shall be issued or
               --------------------
delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine
whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred
in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights
thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

          (n)  Headings.  Headings are given to the Sections and subsections
               --------
of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall
not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or
interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

          SECTION 9.  Term of the Plan
                      ----------------

          (a)    Effective Date.  The Plan shall be effective January 1, 2000.
                 --------------
          (b)    Expiration of  Plan and Termination of Awards.  The Plan shall
                 ---------------------------------------------
terminate on December 31, 2003, subject only to the Company's satisfaction of
its payment obligation with respect to any then outstanding Awards.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                 PHANTOM EQUITY APPRECIATION PLAN AWARD AGREEMENT

[Name]
c/o Rose Hills Company
[Address]

Dear ____________:

     Rose Hills Company (the "Company") has adopted the Rose Hills Company
Phantom Equity Appreciation Plan (the "Plan") as a means of attracting and
retaining exceptional officers and other key employees and consultants of the
Company and its affiliates and motivating such individuals to maximize
stockholder value by awarding bonus opportunities based upon appreciation in the
value of the Company.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall
have the respective meanings specified in the Plan.

     You have been selected by the Plan Committee to receive the Award evidenced
by this Award Agreement, which Award shall be subject to the terms hereof and
the terms of the Plan (the provisions of which are incorporated herein by
reference).

       1.  Bonus Opportunity
           -----------------
           Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Award
           Agreement, you have the right to receive a Bonus Opportunity in the
           amount of $________.

       2.  Vesting
           -------
       Your Bonus Opportunity will vest effective upon and concurrent with the
       closing of the acquisition by Lowen Group International, Inc.
       (collectively with its affiliates, "Loewen"), from Blackstone Capital
       Partners II Merchant Banking Fund, L.P. and its affiliates (collectively,
       "Blackstone"), of all shares of Rose Hills Holdings Corp. ("Parent"), the
       corporate parent of the Company, held by Blackstone (the "Acquisition
       Transaction"); provided, however, that the Acquisition Transaction closes
                      --------  -------
       on or before December 31, 2001 (the "Expiration Date").  If the
       Acquisition Transaction does not close on or before the Expiration Date,
       this Award Agreement, and the Award evidenced hereby, shall terminate and
       be of no further force or effect as of January 1, 2002, and after such
       date, you will no longer have a right to receive the Bonus Opportunity
       specified in Section 1 above.

       3.  Effect of Termination of Employment
           -----------------------------------
           In the event your employment is terminated by the Company without
           Cause or by you for Good Reason prior to the closing of the
           Acquisition Transaction, and if the closing of the Acquisition
           Transaction occurs on or prior to the Expiration Date, the Bonus
           Opportunity shall be deemed to vest upon the closing of the
           Acquisition Transaction, and the Bonus Opportunity shall be payable
           in accordance with the terms hereof. If the Acquisition Transaction
           does not close on or before the Expiration Date, this Award
           Agreement, and the Award evidenced hereby, shall terminate and be of
           no further force or effect as of January 1, 2002, and after such
           date, you will no longer have a right to receive the Bonus
           Opportunity specified in Section 1 above.

                                       9
<PAGE>

       If your employment with the Company should terminate prior to the closing
       of the Acquisition Transaction for any reason or under any circumstances
       other than without Cause or for Good Reason, you shall forfeit your right
       to receive the Bonus Opportunity in its entirety.

       4.  Payment in Respect of Bonus Opportunity
           ---------------------------------------
           Your right to receive payment of the Bonus Opportunity under this
           Award Agreement is expressly conditioned upon the closing of the
           Acquisition Transaction on or prior to the Expiration Date and,
           except as otherwise provided in Section 3 above, your remaining
           employed by the Company through the closing date of the Acquisition
           Transaction. If the closing of the Acquisition Transaction occurs on
           or prior to the Expiration Date, and your right to receive payment
           has not otherwise been forfeited pursuant to Section 3 above, the
           Company shall pay the full amount of the Bonus Opportunity to you in
           cash (subject to any applicable tax or other required withholding
           obligation) as soon as practicable, and in any case, within five (5)
           business days following the closing date of the Acquisition
           Transaction.

       5.  Award Subject to Plan
           ---------------------
           By entering into this Award Agreement, you agree and acknowledge that
           you have received and read a copy of the Plan. This Award Agreement,
           and the Award evidenced hereby, is subject to the Plan. The terms and
           provisions of the Plan as it may be amended from time to time are
           hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict
           between any term or provision contained herein and a term or
           provision of the Plan, the applicable terms and provisions of the
           Plan will govern and prevail.

       6.  Absence of Other Awards; Entire Agreement Pertaining to Award
           -------------------------------------------------------------
       By entering into this Award Agreement, you acknowledge and agree that as
       of the date hereof:

          (i)  the Award evidenced by this Award Agreement is the only Award
               that has been made to you under the Plan, and that you are not
               presently the holder or beneficiary of any other Award under the
               Plan; and

          (ii) you do not have a right (pursuant to any other Award Agreement,
               any employment agreement, any other contract or commitment, or
               otherwise) to receive any other Award or any additional Bonus
               Opportunity under the terms of the Plan.

       This Award Agreement contains the entire agreement with respect to the
       Award evidenced hereby, and supersedes any and all prior agreements or
       understandings with respect to any Awards made or to be made to you under
       the Plan.  The provisions of this Section 6 and Section 7 below shall
       constitute an amendment to any employment or severance agreement between
       you and the Company that is in effect as of the date hereof.

       7. Consent to Termination of Plan upon Closing of Acquisition Transaction
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------
       You hereby acknowledge that the Board of Directors of the Company has
       taken action to terminate the Plan conditioned upon and concurrent with
       the closing of the Acquisition Transaction.  You hereby consent to the
       termination of the Plan effective upon the closing of the Acquisition
       Transaction, subject to your right to receive payment of the Bonus
       Opportunity set forth in Section 1 hereof pursuant to the express terms
       of this Award Agreement.  You hereby agree that, upon payment in full of
       the Bonus Opportunity set forth in Section 1 hereof in accordance with
       the terms of this Award Agreement, you shall have no further rights to
       receive Awards or payment of Bonus Opportunities under the Plan.

                                      10
<PAGE>

       8.  Counterparts
           ------------
           This Award Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which
           shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures
           thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

       Please indicate your acceptance of the foregoing terms and conditions by
       executing this Award Agreement in the space provided below.

                                    ROSE HILLS COMPANY

                                    By:________________________

                                    Name:______________________

                                    Title:_____________________

Agreed and acknowledged as of
this ___ day of ___, 2001:

________________________________
          Participant

                                      11

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