Equity Components of Accumulated Other Comrehensive income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 88,441
Activity in 2014	75,500	75,888
Balance at end of period	90,759
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	88,441	111,717
Activity in 2014	2,318	(17,260)
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	46,253	8,744
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	(46,253)	(8,744)
Balance at end of period	90,759	94,457
Foreign Currency Gain (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	88,441	111,717
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	0	0
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	0	0
Balance at end of period	90,759	94,457
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	0
Activity in 2014	0	0
Increase in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts, net of taxes	46,253	8,744
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus’, net of taxes	(46,253)	(8,744)
Balance at end of period	$ 0	$ 0