Preneed Cemetery Receivables (Preneed cemetery receivables) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Allowance for Contract Cancellations [Roll Forward]
Provision	$ (1,274)	$ (1,429)
Preneed Cemetery Receivables [Member]
Allowance for Contract Cancellations [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,903
Write-offs and cancellations	(1,456)
Provision	(790)
Assets divested or held for sale reclassification	(57)
Ending balance	$ 1,180

Amount of expense related to write-down of receivables to the amount expected to be collected. Includes, but is not limited to, accounts receivable and notes receivable.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.5)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 5

-Article 5

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration