Divestiture-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
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	$ 1,788,065		$ 1,788,065		$ 1,760,297
Property and equipment, net	1,831,102		1,831,102		1,846,722
Goodwill	1,801,645		1,801,645		1,796,340
Deferred charges and other assets	585,180		585,180		582,164
Assets	11,875,492		11,875,492		11,676,397
Assets held-for-sale	30,191		30,191		$ 214
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	30,641	$ 5,582	30,988	$ 7,361
Gains (losses) on divestitures, net	685	(4,940)	2,111	(3,027)
Impairment losses	(31,326)	(642)	(33,099)	4,334
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(30,641)	$ (5,582)	(30,988)	$ (7,361)
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	966		966
Property and equipment, net	23,212		23,212
Goodwill	25,355		25,355
Deferred charges and other assets	12,495		12,495
Assets	62,028		62,028
Less: impairment on assets held-for-sale			(31,837)
Assets held-for-sale	$ 30,191		30,191
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net			31,200
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net			$ (31,200)