How can an obituary be best defined?

An obituary is best defined as a brief biographical sketch of a person's life. This definition captures the essence of what an obituary conveys, which is a summary of the significant events, achievements, and characteristics of an individual who has passed away.

Obituaries typically include information such as the deceased's date of birth and death, important milestones in their life, educational background, career highlights, and contributions to the community or family. Unlike a death notice, which mainly provides logistical details about the time and place of services, the obituary gives a more comprehensive picture of the person's life and legacy, often meant to celebrate their memory.

The other options describe related concepts but do not encompass the full scope of what an obituary represents. A death notice lacks the biographical details, a certificate filed with the local registrar pertains to legal documentation rather than biographical details, and a letter of praise, while it may express sentiment, does not serve the informative purpose that an obituary does. Thus, the accurate definition ties closely to the idea of capturing and reflecting on the individual’s life story.