Are you certain that 'the vast majority' of theologians think Mary died?
The way I heard it, (Baltimore Cat) she did not die, but at what WOULD have been the natural end of her life, she was assumed into Heaven---thus she did not exactly "die."
Natch, since she appears regularly, she's certainly alive, hale, and hearty, today--in body and soul.
Just to clarify things, it is still open for debate whether or not Mary died. Pope Pius XII did not make any declaration concerning her death. He did, in the Bull Munificentissimus Deus declare that she was taken body and soul to heaven, without specifying if she had indeed died, or assumed while still being alive.
Munificentissimus Deus...by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma, that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.
http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P12MUNIF.HTM
There are two trains of thought. 1) That Mary indeed died, but was assumed into heaven before the onset of the corruption of her body. This is seen as a fitting reward, as she being sinless, her body would not under go the effects of corruption.
2) Others go farther, saying that because death is punishment for sin, Mary, who was sinless, did not die. It is also speculated that since God intervened at her conception, preserving her from original sin, it was fitting that she should not die, as death is one of the effects of original sin.
Thus, we are free to hold either opinion, as long as we firmly believe that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken body and soul into heaven.