Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on cemetery merchandise and service trust investments) (Details) - Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 700	$ 200	$ 700	$ 200
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	55,137		55,137		$ 40,926
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	8,196		8,196		2,215
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	4,696		4,696		5,317
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	1,656		1,656		1,480
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	59,833		59,833		46,243
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	9,852		9,852		3,695
Municipal Bonds [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	408		408
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	49		49
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	408		408
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	49		49
Foreign Debt [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,776		2,776		5,629
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	427		427		237
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	717		717		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	61		61		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,493		3,493		5,629
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	488		488		237
Corporate Debt [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	17,779		17,779		18,051
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	2,260		2,260		778
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,972		2,972		2,016
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	803		803		1,389
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	20,751		20,751		20,067
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	3,063		3,063		2,167
Preferred Stock [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	15,636		15,636		10,342
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	666		666		289
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0		0		3,236
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	0		0		36
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	15,636		15,636		13,578
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	666		666		325
Common Stock [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	18,538		18,538		6,904
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	4,794		4,794		911
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,007		1,007		65
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	792		792		55
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	19,545		19,545		6,969
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ 5,586		$ 5,586		$ 966