When people say "mary had a difficult death," they are likely to be referring to?

The answer is, the way of Mary's diminishing.

Explanation:

Some spurious records express that at the season of her prearranged engagement to Joseph, Mary was 12 - 14 years of age, and he was ninety years of age, yet such records are problematic. As indicated by antiquated Jewish custom, Mary could have been pledged at around 12. So, as per convention, Mary was 14 - 16 years of age when Jesus was conceived. Given that Jesus kicked the bucket at 33, that would make her 47 - 49 years of age at His passing. Joseph and Mary were hitched, as per Jewish custom, at Mary's home in the environs of Nazareth when Joseph was twenty-one years of age.