Supplementary Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	$ 373,991	$ 372,216	$ 729,386	$ 709,238
Total services revenues	332,432	338,150	685,053	712,986
Other revenues	45,287	43,988	86,542	80,247
Total revenues	751,710	754,354	1,500,981	1,502,471
Total cost of merchandise	200,679	200,941	395,678	383,885
Total cost of services	178,328	177,189	356,718	352,313
Overhead and other expenses	211,332	209,967	425,718	422,572
Total costs and expenses	590,339	588,097	1,178,114	1,158,770
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid			5,301	1,513
Funeral
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	152,395	151,926	313,926	314,127
Total services revenues	277,416	283,810	574,403	600,677
Total revenues	467,092	471,520	959,201	979,207
Total cost of merchandise	72,065	72,637	147,862	148,622
Total cost of services	160,090	159,397	319,508	315,498
Cemetery
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	221,596	220,290	415,460	395,111
Total services revenues	55,016	54,340	110,650	112,309
Total revenues	284,618	282,834	541,780	523,264
Total cost of merchandise	128,614	128,304	247,816	235,263
Total cost of services	$ 18,238	$ 17,792	$ 37,210	$ 36,815