Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 Activities (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 18,649		$ 11,609		$ 11,122		$ 10,849
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,315	[1]	552	[1]	7,404	[1]	670	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(5)	[2]	(33)	[2]	(100)	[2]	(103)	[2]
Sales					0		(26)
Contributions	0		465		2,317		3,244
Distributions and other	(122)		(1,708)		(906)		(3,749)
Fair market value, ending balance	19,837		10,885		19,837		10,885
Other Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	10,815		7,314		7,659		6,890
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	492	[1]	276	[1]	3,926	[1]	813	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(3)	[2]	(8)	[2]	(56)	[2]	(26)	[2]
Sales					0		0
Contributions	0		0		0		0
Distributions and other	(139)		(129)		(364)		(224)
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 11,165		$ 7,453		$ 11,165		$ 7,453

[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.