Drawing almost an exact line of similarity in your upbringing and mine (brahmin by birth, reared to believe in Vedas and Carnatic music and other orthodox values, educated all the way from kindergarten to 12th class in catholic schools) fear of death or the death itself is something that can never ever be conquered by the living.
Religion only offers an insight regarding death for believers and hence they chose to embrace. Atheists, believers or rather the entire flora and fauna, fear of death or death itself is no different for any of them.
Among humans, religion is only a handle, which believers chose to hold it while atheists chose not to. Religion is followed or cursed between the two, only due to the sheer difference in psychology of handling the fear of death or the death itself.