Preneed Trust Investments (Preneed cemetery trust investment security transactions) (Details) (Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Investment income	$ 693	$ 762
Realized gains	38	2,373
Realized losses	(430)	(115)
Expenses and taxes	(381)	(131)
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	$ 80	$ (2,889)

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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