Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 20,219	$ 28,015	$ 34,783	$ 39,897
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(32,522)	(14,428)	(76,642)	(26,321)
Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	295,214		295,214		$ 548,240
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(39,940)		(39,940)		(48,832)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	172,794		172,794		167,817
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(33,638)		(33,638)		(41,727)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	468,008		468,008		716,057
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(73,578)		(73,578)		(90,559)
Deposits	33,509	32,485	61,217	62,480
Withdrawals	37,960	41,745	73,130	87,189
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	70,430	76,404	180,825	180,635
Sales of available-for-sale securities	71,057	89,998	175,474	172,318
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	6,246	9,856	13,070	14,205
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(10,201)	$ (3,838)	(29,852)	$ (8,572)
Corporate Debt Securities | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,291		2,291		4,644
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(23)		(23)		(156)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,412		2,412		4,025
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(48)		(48)		(128)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,703		4,703		8,669
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(71)		(71)		$ (284)
Other Investments | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	1,364		1,364
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(58)		(58)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	1,364		1,364
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (58)		$ (58)