Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 Activities (Details) (Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	$ 19,779		$ 11,122
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	727	[1]	6,069	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(12)	[2]	(82)	[2]
Sales	(17)		0
Contributions	694		1
Distributions and other	(365)		(656)
Fair market value, ending balance	20,806		16,454
Other Investments [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	11,590		7,659
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	128	[1]	2,729	[1]
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	(6)	[2]	(46)	[2]
Sales	0		0
Contributions	0		0
Distributions and other	0		0
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 11,712

[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 (expense), 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 (expense), 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.