Cemetery Perpetual Care Trusts Level 3 Activities (Details) - Cemetery Perpetual Care - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Private Equity Funds
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		$ 28,223	$ 20,806	$ 23,908	$ 19,779
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	[1]	2,376	570	6,293	1,297
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	[2]	(18)	(12)	(30)	(24)
Sales				0	(17)
Contributions		4,670	709	5,165	1,403
Distributions and other		(1,114)	(799)	(1,199)	(1,164)
Fair market value, ending balance		34,137	21,274	34,137	21,274
Other Investments
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Fair market value, beginning balance		13,808	11,712	12,088	11,590
Net unrealized (losses) gains included in Accumulated other comprehensive income	[1]	(1,161)	553	34	681
Net realized gains (losses) included in Other income, net(2)	[2]	(8)	(6)	(23)	(12)
Sales				0	0
Contributions		1,905	0	2,553	0
Distributions and other		(455)	(273)	(563)	(273)
Fair market value, ending balance		$ 14,089	$ 11,986	$ 14,089	$ 11,986

[1] All unrealized gains (losses) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income for our 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 receipts held in trust. See Note 7 for further information related to our Deferred preneed receipts held in trust.

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