Equity Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 111,717
Activity in 2012	110,779	138,742
Balance at end of period	101,949
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	111,717
Activity in 2012	(9,768)	10,979
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	67,271
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	(67,271)
Balance at end of period	101,949
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	111,717
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	0
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	0
Balance at end of period	101,949
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0
Activity in 2012	0
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	67,271
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	(67,271)
Balance at end of period	$ 0