How do you handle grief?

I lost my stepmother this past spring to complications from ocular melanoma. This has hit me especially hard, particularly during this holiday season as it is the first without her... My question is, how do you go through a grieving process without the "aid" of religion? I have my moments where I become nostalgic for those beliefs I used to have, for even though they were false, at least they brought me comfort during times like these (I am a bit ashamed to confess) ...

Anyway, any and all suggestions are welcome please.

~Evelyn