Preneed Funeral Activities Long-term Receivable and Investment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
Sep. 30, 2016 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items] | ||
| Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments | $ 1,824,772 | $ 1,760,297 |
| Funeral | ||
| Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items] | ||
| Trust investments, at market | 1,176,086 | 1,109,394 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 112,662 | 134,642 |
| Assets associated with business held for sale | (872) | (39) |
| Insurance-backed fixed income securities | 272,088 | 271,116 |
| Trust investments | 1,559,964 | 1,515,113 |
| Receivables from customers | 314,185 | 290,689 |
| Unearned finance charges | (12,893) | (11,235) |
| Preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments, excluding allowance for cancellation | 1,861,256 | 1,794,567 |
| Allowance for cancellation | (36,484) | (34,270) |
| Preneed funeral receivables and trust investments | $ 1,824,772 | $ 1,760,297 |