Preneed Funeral Activities Level 3 Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		$ 29,344	$ 26,844
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	[1]		3,313
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	[2]		(43)
Contributions			6,582
Distributions and other			(7,352)
Fair market value, ending balance			29,344	$ 26,844
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		28,325	26,885	17,879
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	[3]	6,449	2,242	13,429
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	[4]	(44)	(39)	(43)
Purchases		0	0	1,188
Sales		(36)	0	0
Contributions		7,464	6,122	3,229
Distributions and other		(6,721)	(6,885)	(9,245)
Investments with significant unobservable inputs acquired		0	0	448
Fair market value, ending balance		35,437	28,325	26,885
Other Investments [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		5,706	1,808	744
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	[3]	214	826	1,442
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	[4]	(15)	(6)	(3)
Purchases		32	3,214	0
Sales		0	0	0
Contributions		1,297	4	0
Distributions and other		(1,862)	(140)	(393)
Investments with significant unobservable inputs acquired		0	0	18
Fair market value, ending balance		$ 5,372	$ 5,706	$ 1,808

[1] All unrealized gains recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery 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 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

[2] All losses recognized in Other income (expense), net for our cemetery 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 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

[3] All unrealized gains 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 receipts held in trust. See Note 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

[4] 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 receipts held in trust. See Note 6 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.