Preneed Trust Investments Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on preneed funeral trust investments) (Details) (Preneed Funeral Trust Investments, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	$ 38,267	$ 22,303
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	(1,975)	(952)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	6,209	3,952
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(1,275)	(814)
Fair market value, Total	44,476	26,255
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(3,250)	(1,766)
U.S. debt
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	500	0
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	836	816
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(15)	(54)
Fair market value, Total	1,336	816
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(15)	(54)
U.S. agency obligations
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months		0
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses		0
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months		211
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses		(7)
Fair market value, Total		211
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses		(7)
Foreign debt
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	4,471	632
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	(188)	(2)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	0	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair market value, Total	4,471	632
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(188)	(2)
Corporate debt
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	14,310	9,620
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	(617)	(460)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	1,598	640
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(1,101)	(497)
Fair market value, Total	15,908	10,260
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(1,718)	(957)
Preferred stock
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	8,300	9,918
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	(232)	(282)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	2,597	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(29)	0
Fair market value, Total	10,897	9,918
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(261)	(282)
Mortgage backed securities
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	0
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	0
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	51
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(3)
Fair market value, Total	51
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(3)
Equity
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	5,594	954
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	(739)	(152)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	53	626
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(44)	(85)
Fair market value, Total	5,647	1,580
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(783)	(237)
Equity and other
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	4,204	314
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	(180)	(13)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	6	195
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(1)	(9)
Fair market value, Total	4,210	509
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(181)	(22)
Fixed income
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	888	865
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	(19)	(43)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	1,026	1,420
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(53)	(136)
Fair market value, Total	1,914	2,285
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	(72)	(179)
Other investments
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	0	0
Available-for-Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less Than Twelve Months, Unrealized Losses	0	0
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	42	44
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Unrealized Losses	(29)	(26)
Fair market value, Total	42	44
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Unrealized Losses	$ (29)	$ (26)

Preneed Trust Investments Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on preneed funeral trust investments) (Details) (Preneed Funeral Trust Investments, USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified