Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds) (Details) (Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cemetary perpetual care trust investments	$ 40,261	$ 46,542
Fair market value as a percentage of cost	99.70%	99.80%
Cash and Money Market Accounts [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	555	545
Unrealized Gains	0	0
Unrealized Losses	0	0
Cash and Money Market Accounts [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Fair Market Value	555	545
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	2,021	1,267
Unrealized Gains	21	284
Unrealized Losses	(24)	0
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Fair Market Value	2,018	1,551
Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	19,784	24,324
Unrealized Gains	278	556
Unrealized Losses	(674)	(323)
Corporate Debt [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Fair Market Value	19,388	24,557
Preferred Stock [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	10,414	14,225
Unrealized Gains	43	525
Unrealized Losses	(255)	(187)
Preferred Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Fair Market Value	10,202	14,563
Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost		1
Unrealized Gains		0
Unrealized Losses		0
Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Fair Market Value		1
Common Stock [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	6,982	5,563
Unrealized Gains	733	22
Unrealized Losses	(250)	(969)
Common Stock [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Fair Market Value	7,465	4,616
Trust Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	39,756	45,925
Unrealized Gains	1,075	1,387
Unrealized Losses	(1,203)	(1,479)
Fair Market Value	39,628	45,833
Accrued Investment Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	633	709
Fair Market Value	$ 633	$ 709