Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 Activities (Details) - Cemetery Perpetual Care - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Private Equity Funds
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		$ 34,137	$ 21,274	$ 23,908	$ 19,779
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	[1]	87	(206)	6,380	1,091
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	[2]	(10)	(13)	(40)	(37)
Sales				0	(17)
Contributions		0	9,058	5,165	10,461
Distributions and other		(368)	(3,331)	(1,567)	(4,495)
Fair market value, ending balance		33,846	26,782	33,846	26,782
Other Investments
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		14,089	11,983	12,088	11,587
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	[1]	1,310	23	1,344	704
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	[2]	(13)	(17)	(36)	(29)
Sales				0	0
Contributions		0	0	2,553	0
Distributions and other		(475)	0	(1,038)	(273)
Fair market value, ending balance		$ 14,911	$ 11,989	$ 14,911	$ 11,989

[1] All unrealized gains (losses) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our 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 receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

[2] All net realized losses recognized in Other income (expense), net for our 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 receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.