Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on cemetery merchandise and service trust investments) (Details) - Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]          
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments $ 100 $ 0 $ 800 $ 700  
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value 15,698   15,698   $ 40,857
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss (1,768)   (1,768)   (5,864)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value 22,123   22,123   12,194
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss (4,250)   (4,250)   (3,219)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value 37,821   37,821   53,051
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss (6,018)   (6,018)   (9,083)
Municipal Bonds [Member]          
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]          
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value         395
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss         (63)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value         0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss         0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value         395
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss         (63)
Foreign Debt [Member]          
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]          
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value 2,419   2,419   3,680
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss (138)   (138)   (384)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value 2,909   2,909   406
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss (603)   (603)   (312)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value 5,328   5,328   4,086
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss (741)   (741)   (696)
Corporate Debt [Member]          
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]          
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value 6,599   6,599   14,468
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss (197)   (197)   (2,992)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value 4,707   4,707   3,056
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss (1,216)   (1,216)   (1,287)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value 11,306   11,306   17,524
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss (1,413)   (1,413)   (4,279)
Preferred Stock [Member]          
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]          
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value 1,711   1,711   10,285
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss (10)   (10)   (436)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value 11,830   11,830   5,168
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss (694)   (694)   (448)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value 13,541   13,541   15,453
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss (704)   (704)   (884)
Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]          
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]          
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value 229   229    
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss (16)   (16)    
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value 0   0    
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss 0   0    
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value 229   229    
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss (16)   (16)    
Common Stock [Member]          
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]          
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value 4,740   4,740   12,029
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss (1,407)   (1,407)   (1,989)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value 2,677   2,677   3,564
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss (1,737)   (1,737)   (1,172)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value 7,417   7,417   15,593
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss $ (3,144)   $ (3,144)   $ (3,161)