Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,796,340	$ 1,810,853
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,796,340
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	26,658	12,661
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(26,824)	(9,170)
Effect of foreign currency and other	2,907	(18,004)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	2,741	(14,513)
Goodwill, ending balance		1,796,340	$ 1,810,853
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,799,081	1,796,340
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	1,200
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	379,502	385,863
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	268,061	257,157
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	111,441	128,706
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	245,984	230,659
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	10,640	10,640
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	256,624	241,299
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	368,065	370,005
Amortization of intangible assets	30,956	31,459	36,640
Future Amortization Expense, Year One	11,718
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two	10,961
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three	7,711
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four	6,613
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five	6,504
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	1,200
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	211,549	206,822
Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	146,876	154,364
Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,150	12,750
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	11,927	11,927
Funeral [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,490,502	1,510,879
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,490,502
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	26,809	6,460
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(26,554)	(8,908)
Effect of foreign currency and other	2,898	(17,929)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	3,153	(20,377)
Goodwill, ending balance		1,490,502	1,510,879
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,493,655	1,490,502
Amortization of intangible assets	20,442	22,636	24,841
Cemetery [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	305,838	299,974
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	305,838
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	(151)	6,201
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(270)	(262)
Effect of foreign currency and other	9	(75)
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	(412)	5,864
Goodwill, ending balance		305,838	299,974
Goodwill, net, ending balance	305,426	305,838
Amortization of intangible assets	$ 10,440	$ 8,748	$ 11,700
Minimum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	10 years
Minimum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Maximum [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	40 years
Maximum [Member] | Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	20 years
Maximum [Member] | Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	5 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum	40 years