Preneed Cemetery Activities Level 3 Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Investments [Member] | Cemetery [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		$ 1,197	$ 1,245	$ 450
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	[1]	228	(73)	1,218
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	[2]	(15)	(7)	(5)
Payments to Acquire Other Investments		1,328	196	0
Contributions		1,390	4	0
Distributions and other		(1,873)	(168)	(418)
Fair market value, ending balance		2,255	1,197	1,245
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] | Cemetery [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		29,344	26,844	17,687
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	[1]	5,723		15,420
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	[2]	(45)		(48)
Payments to Acquire Other Investments		0	0	0
Contributions		7,935		3,430
Distributions and other		(6,846)		(9,645)
Fair market value, ending balance		$ 36,111	$ 29,344	$ 26,844

[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.