Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 46,678	$ 31,729
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(4,110)	(4,213)
Funeral [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Current	(159,808)		(163,436)
Deposits	27,923	22,199
Withdrawals	43,737	32,705
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	61,485	60,979
Sales of available-for-sale securities	64,051	96,704
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	16,101	11,371
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (1,474)	$ (1,721)

Amounts deposited to trust during the period.

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Amounts withdrawn from trust during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate value (measured at the lower of net carrying value or fair value less cost of disposal) for current assets (assets with expected useful life shorter than one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer) of a disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), to be sold or that has subsequently been disposed of through sale, as of the financial statement date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759

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- Definition

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

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This item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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The cash outflow to acquire debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which would be classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

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-Section 45

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The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

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