Divestiture-Related Activities (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Divestiture-Related Activities [Abstract]
Current assets	$ 5,740	$ 4,569
Preneed funeral and cemetery receivables and trust investments, held for sale	346,690	342,728
Cemetery property, held for sale	103,391	83,115
Assets Held-for-sale, Property, Plant and Equipment	82,631	63,356
Goodwill, held for sale	127,138	140,860
Deferred charges and other assets, held for sale	22,954	32,989
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments, held for sale	112,197	83,426
Assets Held-for-sale, at Carrying Value	800,741	751,043
Current liabilities held for sale	4,850	3,183
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery revenues and deferred receipts held in trusts, held for sale	387,620	349,449
Care trusts' corpus, held for sale	112,197	83,426
Other long-term liabilities, held for sale	4,606	4,209
Total liabilities, held for sale	509,273	440,267
Net assets held for sale	$ 291,468	$ 310,776