Preneed Funeral Activities Schedule of Unrealized Loss on Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	$ 343,948	$ 548,240
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(17,390)	(48,832)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	227,248	167,818
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(38,882)	(41,727)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	571,196	716,058
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(56,272)	(90,559)
US Treasury Securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	25,996	36,113
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(557)	(1,268)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	0	141
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	0	(2)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	25,996	36,254
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(557)	(1,270)
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	2,847	209
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(30)	(7)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	191	971
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(12)	(48)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,038	1,180
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(42)	(55)
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	1,710	4,618
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(15)	(156)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	3,560	3,880
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(77)	(128)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	5,270	8,498
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(92)	(284)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value		378
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		(6)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value		132
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(16)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		510
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(22)
Preferred Stock securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	125	449
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(17)	(60)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	98	42
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(22)	(98)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	223	491
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(39)	(158)
US Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value		198,755
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		(26,038)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value		21,355
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(5,999)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		220,110
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(32,037)
US Common Stock Securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	87,059	128,925
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(8,149)	(16,448)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	14,939	14,537
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(3,376)	(2,701)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	101,998	143,462
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(11,525)	(19,149)
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value		473
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		(6)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value		1,430
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(885)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		1,903
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(891)
Canada Common Stock Securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	2,832	1,941
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(254)	(355)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	482	1,051
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(9)	(722)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,314	2,992
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(263)	(1,077)
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value		15,560
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		(2,507)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value		9,412
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(3,292)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		24,972
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(5,799)
Other International Common Stock Securities [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	5,390	9,473
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(1,301)	(1,638)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	7,368	6,154
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(1,866)	(2,269)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	12,758	15,627
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(3,167)	(3,907)
Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value		207,253
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		(25,991)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value		86,720
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(23,651)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		293,973
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(49,642)
Equity Funds [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	108,109	186,016
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(5,080)	(23,385)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	127,273	79,892
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(21,762)	(20,590)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	235,382	265,908
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(26,842)	(43,975)
Fixed Income Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value		139,684
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		(6,323)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value		44,550
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(12,204)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		184,234
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(18,527)
Fixed Income Funds [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	34,120	109,154
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(817)	(5,052)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	31,654	27,061
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(6,551)	(8,040)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	65,774	136,215
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(7,368)	(13,092)
Commingled Funds [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	75,041	70,964
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(687)	(457)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	17,656	15,243
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(480)	(646)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	92,697	86,207
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(1,167)	(1,103)
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value		9,526
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(4,502)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value		9,526
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses		(4,502)
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	693	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(481)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	22,812	18,714
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	(4,709)	(6,467)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	23,505	18,714
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(5,190)	(6,467)
Other Investments [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	26
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Loss	(2)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,160
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Loss	(15)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	1,186
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(17)
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	268,214	477,276
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Loss	(16,222)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses		(48,375)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	186,780	133,861
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Loss	(33,693)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses		(34,614)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	454,994	611,137
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(49,915)	(82,989)
Reported At Net Asset Value [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Schedule of unrealized loss on investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Fair Value	75,734	70,964
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	1,168	457
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Fair Value	40,468	33,957
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses	5,189	7,113
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	116,202	104,921
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	$ 6,357	$ 7,570