Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 25,062	$ 20,183	$ 59,845	$ 60,080
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(14,037)	(21,086)	(90,679)	(47,407)
Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	129,836		129,836		$ 548,240
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(12,367)		(12,367)		(48,832)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	256,227		256,227		167,817
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(37,269)		(37,269)		(41,727)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	386,063		386,063		716,057
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(49,636)		(49,636)		(90,559)
Deposits	30,611	30,143	91,828	92,623
Withdrawals	45,120	36,310	118,250	123,499
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	82,369	100,663	263,905	281,298
Sales of available-for-sale securities	93,387	110,642	269,641	282,960
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	10,031	9,341	23,101	23,546
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(5,988)	$ (8,982)	(35,840)	$ (17,554)
Corporate Debt Securities | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	1,743		1,743		4,644
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(18)		(18)		(156)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	3,073		3,073		4,025
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(36)		(36)		(128)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,816		4,816		8,669
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(54)		(54)		$ (284)
Other Investments | Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	27		27
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(2)		(2)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,161		1,161
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(8)		(8)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	1,188		1,188
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (10)		$ (10)