I see Death in the transformative aspect as well as the "loss of life" aspect. Often something has to die in order for something better to live. For a snake to grow, it has to periodically shed the old, tighter skin. The new skin is tender for a while, but eventually it toughens up and the snake can go about it's business--at least, until the next shedding takes place! To gain a promotion on your job, the old job has to die away; can't hold two positions at the same time. New house or apartment? Gotta leave the old one first. Same for a new car, new clothes (especially if you've had a change in weight), new knowledge (once your mind is expanded, it can't go back to its original dimensions. Cancer patients who opt for chemotherapy do so with the understanding that some good cells are going to die along with the cancer cells, hair will be lost, apoetite affected. The payoff? (Usually) prolonged life.
I've also had Death to show up in readings as:
--physical ending of some sort
--pregnancy
--marriage
--major move/relocation (possibly near a large body of water, like a sea, ocean, bay, lake)
--something occurring during the time period of Scorpio (approx. Oct. 20-Nov. 20)
--someone with the sun or rising sign of Scorpio
The card imagery will give you aditional meanings, especialky if you don't use a RWS or RWS derivative.
T.