Goodwill and Intangible Assets Goodwill and Intangible Assets Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,799,081	$ 1,796,340
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,799,081
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	9,228	26,658
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(5,637)	(26,824)
Effect of foreign currency and other	6,568	2,907
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	6,900	2,741
Goodwill, ending balance		1,799,081	$ 1,796,340
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,805,981	1,799,081
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	600
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	99,454	111,441
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Future Total	40,356
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	365,221	379,502
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	265,767	268,061
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	99,454	111,441
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names	263,880	245,984
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets	10,765	10,640
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	274,645	256,624
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	374,099	368,065
Amortization of intangibles	27,650	30,956	31,459
Future Amortization Expense, Year One	11,718
Future Amortization Expense, Year Two	9,100
Future Amortization Expense, Year Three	7,371
Future Amortization Expense, Year Four	6,613
Future Amortization Expense, Year Five	5,554
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)	600
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	214,628	211,549
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	192,296	186,430
Customer Relationships [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	129,516	146,876
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	61,321	71,903
Trade Names [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	9,150	9,150
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	7,320	5,490
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	11,927	11,927
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	4,830	4,238
Funeral [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,493,655	1,490,502
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,493,655
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	8,013	26,809
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(5,413)	(26,554)
Effect of foreign currency and other	6,568	2,898
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	6,086	3,153
Goodwill, ending balance		1,493,655	1,490,502
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,499,741	1,493,655
Amortization of intangibles	17,871	20,444	22,638
Cemetery [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning balance	305,426	305,838
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	305,426
Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions	1,215	(151)
Reduction of goodwill related to divestitures	(224)	(270)
Effect of foreign currency and other	0	9
Goodwill, Period Increase (Decrease)	814	(412)
Goodwill, ending balance		305,426	305,838
Goodwill, net, ending balance	306,240	305,426
Amortization of intangibles	$ 9,696	$ 10,438	$ 8,746
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