Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,810,853	$ 1,825,721
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,810,853
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	12,661	3,530
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(9,170)	(8,919)
Effect of foreign currency and other	(18,004)	(9,479)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	(14,513)	(14,868)
Goodwill, ending balance		1,810,853	$ 1,825,721
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,796,340	1,810,853
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	385,863	382,948
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	257,157	220,682
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	128,706	162,266
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	230,659	220,875
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	10,640	10,640
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	241,299	231,515
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	370,005	393,781
Amortization of intangible assets	31,459	36,640	21,859
Future Amortization Expense, Year One	14,490
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two	11,876
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three	11,119
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four	7,869
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five	6,772
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	206,822	209,920
Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	154,364	148,351
Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	12,750	12,750
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	11,927	11,927
Funeral [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,510,879	1,526,011
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,510,879
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	6,460	292
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(8,908)	(5,959)
Effect of foreign currency and other	(17,929)	(9,465)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	(20,377)	(15,132)
Goodwill, ending balance		1,510,879	1,526,011
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,490,502	1,510,879
Amortization of intangible assets	22,767	24,841	17,245
Cemetery [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	299,974	299,710
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	299,974
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	6,201	3,238
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(262)	(2,960)
Effect of foreign currency and other	(75)	(14)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	5,864	264
Goodwill, ending balance		299,974	299,710
Goodwill, net, ending balance	305,838	299,974
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 8,617	$ 11,700	$ 4,590
Minimum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	10 years
Minimum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	40 years
Maximum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	40 years