Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 Activities (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 11,122		$ 10,849
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	6,069	[1]	444	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(82)	[2]	(46)	[2]
Sales	0		(26)
Contributions	1		1,390
Distributions and other	(656)		(634)
Fair market value, ending balance	16,454		11,977
Other Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	7,659		6,890
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,729	[1]	395	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(46)	[2]	(11)	[2]
Sales	0		0
Contributions	0		0
Distributions and other	0		0
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 10,342		$ 7,274

[1] All unrealized gains (losses) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust

[2] All losses recognized in Other income, net for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income, net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust