Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 20,183	$ 66,604	$ 60,080	$ 159,672
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(21,086)	(7,468)	(47,407)	(18,396)
Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	694,767		694,767		$ 534,435
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	84,546		84,546		26,801
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	63,396		63,396		73,436
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	11,116		11,116		13,638
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	758,163		758,163		607,871
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	95,662		95,662		40,439
Deposits	30,143	23,618	92,623	76,490
Withdrawals	36,310	27,718	123,499	103,410
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	100,663	238,860	281,298	379,650
Sales of available-for-sale securities	110,642	274,630	282,960	445,880
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	9,341	18,935	23,546	50,947
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(8,982)	$ (2,094)	(17,554)	$ (6,233)
Private Equity Funds | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0		0		203
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	0		0		461
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	17,031		17,031		13,870
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	5,554		5,554		8,957
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	17,031		17,031		14,073
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	5,554		5,554		9,418
Other Investments | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0		0		5
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	0		0		11
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	442		442		464
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	15		15		93
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	442		442		469
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ 15		$ 15		$ 104