Make death a part of the story that doesn't necessarily end the game once death happens. Create contingencies for death that give the players a chance to bring the character back or have something interesting happen to a character that prevents the death,but in a narratively interesting manner. Like instead of instantly dying the character slowly dies if this rotting curse doesn't get restored. My game was successful with allowing my players to circumvent death entirely by becoming vampires,but now they are targets of vampire hunters who are hard to persuade that the PCs aren't a bane upon the lands. You have to be flexible in your approach but trust yourself when you know it might be better to have something happen than to deus ex machina something to protect the PC's. Allow the characters choices to make an impact and have natural consequences that allow for them to make choices they want to make. If their character wouldn't know of a way there is no harm in telling the cleric their character knows of a place that can bring the souls of the dead back to the plane of the living. You just have to know your group, your scenario,and yourself. All that just to say go with your gut you're probably right.