Preneed Funeral Activities Level 3 Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Private Equity Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance			$ 15,219
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)			100	[1]
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)			(64)	[2]
Contributions			4,932
Distributions and other			(2,500)
Fair market value, ending balance			17,687
Private Equity Funds [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	17,879		15,986		12,369
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	13,429	[3]	(403)	[3]	2,923	[3]
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(43)	[4]	(58)	[4]	(88)	[4]
Purchases	1,188		0		18
Sales	0		9		8,156
Contributions	3,229		4,664		10,392
Distributions and other	(9,245)		(2,301)		(1,472)
Investments with significant unobservable inputs acquired	448		0		0
Fair market value, ending balance	26,885		17,879		15,986
Other Investments [Member] | Funeral [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance	744		912		8,990
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income(1)	1,442	[3]	(159)	[3]	(8,063)	[3]
Net realized losses included in Other income, net(2)	(3)	[4]	(2)	[4]	(4)	[4]
Purchases	0		0		0
Sales	0		0		0
Contributions	0		0		0
Distributions and other	(393)		(7)		(11)
Investments with significant unobservable inputs acquired	13		0		0
Fair market value, ending balance	$ 1,803		$ 744		$ 912

[1] All unrealized gains (losses) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

[2] All losses recognized in Other income (expense), net for our cemetery merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense), net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

[3] All unrealized losses recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Accumulated other comprehensive income to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.

[4] All losses recognized in Other income (expense), net for our funeral merchandise and service trust investments are attributable to our preneed customers and are offset by a corresponding reclassification in Other income (expense), net to Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust.