Pen Jee,
for sure it is a blessing, for as yourself say, and most of us know by experience, how hard is to be a religious person . Nobody can worship Him, without His bhaana, His hukum.
Regarding the option of death, it is sure we have to die one day, so even if one has to die soon as per any interpretation, even then we should be thankful to Wahiguru, that, even at our last moments, He allows us to devote Him in our minds, being it though an Ardas or His Simran.
But then, why wait for the last moments, who knows of our conditions at that time. It would be better, if we could devote ourselves to Him on a daily basis.
If one has been learning to swim for quite a while, and suddenly one is thrown/pushed in the pool, one can swim safely. But one has not practiced swimming, and is suddenly thrown, one may get drowned.
Similarly, if we do His bhakti regularly, and we are about to die without any signs, then as we are used to it, it does not make much difference, as we are used to focus on Him in natural manner, we may get the grip of His simran and get crossed across the bhavsagar, but in any case by His kirpa at all times.
Sat Sree Akal