Divestiture-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
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	$ 1,824,772		$ 1,824,772		$ 1,760,297
Property and equipment, net	1,834,107		1,834,107		1,846,722
Goodwill	1,801,893		1,801,893		1,796,340
Deferred charges and other assets	588,688		588,688		582,164
Total assets	12,051,476		12,051,476		11,676,397
Assets held-for-sale	31,946		31,946		$ 214
Loss (gain) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(557)	$ (10,764)	30,432	$ (3,403)
Gains on divestitures, net	864	12,400	2,974	9,373
Impairment losses	(307)	(1,636)	(33,406)	5,970
Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	557	$ 10,764	(30,432)	$ 3,403
Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Line Items]
Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	1,034		1,034
Property and equipment, net	24,199		24,199
Goodwill	25,896		25,896
Deferred charges and other assets	12,960		12,960
Total assets	64,089		64,089
Less: impairment on assets held-for-sale			(32,143)
Assets held-for-sale	$ 31,946		31,946
Loss (gain) on divestitures and impairment charges, net			31,200
Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net			$ (31,200)