Preneed Funeral Activities Preneed Funeral Activities Receivables Net and Trust Invesments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Beginning balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		$ 1,760,297
Ending balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		1,817,445	$ 1,760,297
Funeral [Member]
Beginning balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		1,760,297	1,843,023	$ 1,870,243
Net preneed contract sales		296,896	283,927	247,994
Cash receipts from customers, net of refunds		(246,436)	(234,413)	(211,830)
Deposits to trust		121,668	121,109	102,553
Acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net		3,560	1,400	(19,203)
Net undistributed investments (losses) earnings	[1]	65,954	(38,510)	22,480
Maturities and distributed earnings		(193,604)	(200,635)	(162,059)
Change in cancellation allowance		5,295	2,787	7,644
Effect of foreign currency and other		3,815	(18,391)	(14,799)
Ending balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		$ 1,817,445	$ 1,760,297	$ 1,843,023

[1] Includes both realized and unrealized investment earnings.