Preneed Activities Preneed Activities Receivables Net and Trust Invesments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
SEC Schedule, 12-15, Insurance Companies, Summary of Investments, Other than Investments in Related Parties, Fair Value		$ 4,585,720	$ 4,749,548
Investments		4,851,507	5,009,202
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent		991,044	1,455,071
Beginning balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	$ 4,078,464	4,778,842	4,305,165	$ 4,078,464
Cash receipts from customers, net of refunds		(1,185,717)	(1,109,380)	(1,030,703)
Deposits to trust	$ 321,232	393,523	371,234
Acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net		134,729	8,153	1,477
Net undistributed investments (losses) earnings		(191,611)	384,512	145,511
Maturities and distributed earnings		(433,036)	(411,452)	(337,912)
Change in cancellation allowance		62,131	(528)	3,329
Effect of foreign currency and other		(20,127)	16,843	6,023
Ending balance — Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments		4,271,392	4,778,842	$ 4,305,165
Deferred Discounts, Finance Charges and Interest Included in Receivables		(44,981)	(45,515)
Funeral [Member]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent		107,612	336,925
Cemetery [Member]
Accounts Receivable, Gross, Noncurrent		$ 883,432	$ 1,118,146

Impact of acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net on trust investments

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Cash Receipts from Customers, Net of Refunds

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Amounts deposited to trust during the period.

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Effect of Foreign Currency and Other on Preneed Receivables, net and Trust Investments

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Maturities and Distributed Earnings

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Preneed Receivables, Net and Trust Investments Change in Cancellation Allowance

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An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the contract. The aggregate fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions may include: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; and (9) physical commodities. Includes both pledged and unpledged holdings.

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This item represents undistributed investment income derived from investments in debt and equity securities consisting of interest income earned from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents, dividend income from investments in equity securities, and income or expense derived from the amortization of investment related discounts or premiums, respectively, net of related investment expenses. This item also includes realized or unrealized gains or losses on the sale or holding of investments in debt and equity securities required to be included in earnings for the period. It does not include investment income from real or personal property, such as rental income.

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Amounts due from customers or clients, more than one year from the balance sheet date, for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business.

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Unearned discounts (other than cash or quantity discounts and the like), finance charges, and interest included in the face amount of receivables, that are shown as a deduction from the related receivables. For example, 1) finance charges booked as a receivable when a loan is made and recognized as income at a later date; and 2) interest charges deducted from the face loan amount, resulting in a discounted amount actually advanced to the borrower (wherein the receivable includes the amount actually advanced to the borrower and the as yet unearned interest income).

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Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all investments.

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Fair value of investment held by insurance company, excluding investment in related party.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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