New Iowa Children’s Museum turtle exhibit to honor Andrea Farrington

CORALVILLE — Cheryl Farrington worries the memory of her daughter is going to fade as time passes.

Officials from the Iowa Children's Museum at Coral Ridge Mall are taking steps to ensure the legacy of Andrea Farrington lives on.

Andrea Farrington, 20, was shot and killed by Alexander M. Kozak, 23, while working at the museum's welcome center at the mall on June 12, 2015. Kozak was found guilty of the murder and on June 6, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A small group of Andrea Farrington's closest family members and friends gathered Sunday at the museum for a 2 p.m. ceremony during which officials unveiled designs for a new habitat that is to house the museum's pet turtle named Peter.

Peter and Andrea Farrington shared a special bond, museum officials said.

The new habitat is to open in August and include a plaque in Andrea Farrington's honor. Museum officials are planning a bigger ceremony at that time.

'It's going to keep her memory alive,' said Cheryl Farrington. 'As a mom, I worry that her memory will start to fade, but she's going to be living on with Peter and this new habitat.'

Carly Fridrich, an employee at the museum who was friends with Farrington, said the past year has been difficult, but she's learning to heal herself.

'I'd be in a restaurant and I'd just start crying, but I've learned to think of the memories instead of the tragedy,' she said. 'Instead of being sad about her passing, I smile and am glad I was able to know her.

'She made my life better for sure.'

Deb Dunkhase, executive director of the museum, led the ceremony and spoke about Farrington's 'super power skills of interacting with people' as an employee at the museum and particular fondness for Peter.

'She'd only been here a few months when she told me Peter needed a new habitat,' Dunkhase told the crowd.

In an interview with The Gazette a few days before the event, Dunkhase said the museum knew it wanted to honor Farrington with the turtle habitat for Peter soon after she was killed, but it was too painful to start doing so right away. Rather, the habitat is meant to symbolize the joy Farrington had in life.

'I pair the two together — Peter and Andrea — and it always makes me smile when I come to see Peter,' Fridrich said.

Following the ceremony, the small crowd went outside and released turquoise balloons — Andrea Farrington's favorite color — into the sky.

'Andrea left this earth one year ago and went up, and I'm sure she's here with us,' said Cheryl Farrington. 'I love you Andrea.'