What is an obituary?

An obituary is a public notice that announces someone's death, typically providing details about the deceased and information regarding funeral services. This notice can serve several purposes, including informing the community, allowing for public acknowledgment of an individual's life and contributions, and providing details for those who may wish to attend the services. Obituaries often include significant biographical information, such as the person's date of birth, accomplishments, and surviving family members, and they may be published in newspapers or online.

The other options presented do not accurately describe an obituary. Legal documents related to estate affairs pertain to wills or trusts and involve the distribution of assets after a person's passing, rather than a public announcement of death. Reports filed for legal purposes may cover various legal matters but do not serve the function of notifying the public of someone’s death. A notice for the postponement of a funeral service does not describe what an obituary is; rather, it would be an administrative update regarding a specific event related to the deceased.