Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 Activities (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 16,454		$ 11,977		$ 11,122		$ 10,849
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	20	[1]	(326)	[1]	6,089	[1]	118	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(13)	[2]	(24)	[2]	(95)	[2]	(70)	[2]
Sales					0		(26)
Contributions	2,316		1,389		2,317		2,779
Distributions and other	(128)		(1,407)		(784)		(2,041)
Fair market value, ending balance	18,649		11,609		18,649		11,609
Other Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	10,342		7,274		7,659		6,890
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	705	[1]	142	[1]	3,434	[1]	537	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(7)	[2]	(7)	[2]	(53)	[2]	(18)	[2]
Sales					0		0
Contributions	0		0		0		0
Distributions and other	(225)		(95)		(225)		(95)
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 10,815		$ 7,314		$ 10,815		$ 7,314

[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.