Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 31,729	$ 67,445
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(4,213)	(25,733)
Funeral [Member]
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	22,199	22,178
Withdrawals	32,705	30,912
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	60,979	188,059
Sales of available-for-sale securities	96,704	184,902
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	11,371	26,011
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (1,721)	$ (9,748)

The cash outflow to acquire debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities which would be classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity.

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+ Details

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Paragraph 18

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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+ Details