Supplementary Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	$ 361,559	$ 352,418	$ 1,090,907	$ 1,061,689
Total services revenues	321,336	319,083	1,006,499	1,032,044
Other revenues	38,572	42,952	124,677	123,028
Total revenues	721,467	714,453	2,222,083	2,216,761
Total cost of merchandise	185,996	182,027	568,839	553,312
Total cost of services	180,171	180,493	553,567	550,479
Overhead and other expenses	214,555	210,254	634,019	626,183
Total costs and expenses	580,722	572,774	1,756,425	1,729,974
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid			(6,160)	(1,587)
Acquisitions of capital leases, primarily transportation equipment			33,814	51,347
Funeral
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	145,989	146,187	459,907	460,317
Total services revenues	268,588	267,279	843,004	867,969
Total revenues	445,462	449,300	1,404,623	1,428,469
Total cost of merchandise	67,529	69,902	216,752	220,372
Total cost of services	154,166	156,105	470,974	469,885
Cemetery
Product Information [Line Items]
Total merchandise revenues	215,570	206,231	631,000	601,372
Total services revenues	52,748	51,804	163,495	164,075
Total revenues	276,005	265,153	817,460	788,292
Total cost of merchandise	118,467	112,125	352,087	332,940
Total cost of services	$ 26,005	$ 24,388	$ 82,593	$ 80,594