Preneed Cemetery Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 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)
Cemetery [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	241,716		269,357
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(13,748)		15,577
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	120,134		122,667
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(34,331)		39,249
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	361,850		392,024
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(48,079)		(54,826)
Deposits	28,271	25,268
Withdrawals	34,348	29,881
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	98,758	105,722
Sales of available-for-sale securities	92,317	125,743
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	25,532	16,576
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(2,299)	(2,170)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Cemetery [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	169		145
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(3)		(2)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	4		2
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	173		147
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(3)		(2)
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Cemetery [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	6,707		6,589
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(4,686)		(5,153)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	6,707		6,589
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(4,686)		(5,153)
Other Investments [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	279
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(6)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	279
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(6)
Other Investments [Member] | Cemetery [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value			282
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses			(33)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value			282
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses			(33)
Asset-backed Securities [Member] | Cemetery [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	391		3,257
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(4)		(13)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	15		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	406		3,257
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	$ (4)		$ (13)