Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 14,564	$ 11,882
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(44,120)	(11,892)
Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	415,505		$ 548,240
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(50,250)		(48,832)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	150,363		167,817
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(35,892)		(41,727)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	565,868		716,057
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(86,142)		(90,559)
Deposits	27,708	29,995
Withdrawals	35,170	45,444
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	109,522	104,231
Sales of available-for-sale securities	99,493	82,320
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	6,824	4,349
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(19,651)	$ (4,735)
Corporate Debt Securities | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,714		4,644
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(108)		(156)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	3,369		4,025
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(154)		(128)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	6,083		8,669
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(262)		$ (284)
Other Investments | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	1,084
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(96)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	1,084
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (96)