Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Textuals (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment		$ 5,500
Intangible Fair Value Inputs, Royalty Savings Rate, Low	0.010
Amortization of cemetery property	$ 68,102	66,745	$ 62,407
Depreciation	$ 153,141	147,233	141,456
Goodwill Reporting Unit Fair Value Inputs, Growth Rate, Low End of the Range	1.20%
Goodwill Reporting Unit Fair Value Inputs, Growth Rate, High End of the Range	4.70%
Goodwill Reporting Unit Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	6.50%
Intangible Fair Value Inputs, Royalty Savings Rate	0.040
Intangibles Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate	6.70%
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments, Portion Recognized in Earnings, Net	$ 28,900	$ 11,900	$ 9,600
Retirement of treasury shares	0	0	0
General Agency Revenue	$ 121,000	$ 135,800	$ 137,000
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Change on Net Income	18,600
Funeral [Member]
Amortization of cemetery property	0	0	0
Depreciation	$ 109,965	106,602	103,272
Goodwill Reporting Unit Fair Value Inputs, Terminal Growth Rate	2.50%
Intangibles Fair Value Inputs, Terminal Growth Rate	2.50%
Cemetery [Member]
Amortization of cemetery property	$ 68,102	66,745	62,407
Depreciation	$ 32,815	$ 31,081	$ 29,448
Goodwill Reporting Unit Fair Value Inputs, Terminal Growth Rate	2.90%
Intangibles Fair Value Inputs, Terminal Growth Rate	2.90%
Treasury Stock [Member]
Retirement of treasury shares	6,890	7,901	7,969
Minimum [Member]
Funeral home lease life	1 year
Transportation equipment lease life	1 year
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	2 years
Minimum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P7Y
Minimum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P3Y
Maximum [Member]
Funeral home lease life	40 years
Transportation equipment lease life	5 years
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	40 years
Maximum [Member] | Building and Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P40Y
Maximum [Member] | Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P8Y
Maximum [Member] | Leasehold Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	P10Y
Noncompete Agreements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	2 years
Noncompete Agreements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life	20 years