Equity Components of Accumulated Other Comrehensive income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 59,414
Activity in 2014	38,832	30,191
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Net of Tax	0	0
Balance at end of period	36,797
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	59,414	88,441
Activity in 2014	(22,617)	(11,226)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Net of Tax	50,667	(17,039)
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	(50,667)	(17,039)
Balance at end of period	36,797	77,215
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	59,414	88,441
Activity in 2014		(11,226)
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	0
Balance at end of period	36,797	77,215
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Activity in 2014	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Realized upon Sale or Liquidation, Net of Tax	50,667	17,039
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	(50,667)	(17,039)
Balance at end of period	$ 0	$ 0