JOLIET – The best friend of Marissa Koziel, 21, who was found dead of a gunshot Feb. 23 in Joliet Township, is collecting money to dedicate a memorial bench in her honor.

Madison Gill set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the memorial bench, which would be located in Pilcher Park in Joliet where, she said, she, Koziel and other friends spent time hanging out.

“When we were younger, we would drive around the trail with other friends and gaze in awe at the beautiful scenery,” Gill wrote on the page. “Her and I would usually sit back and forget about everything that we were so worried about as young teens. Going to Pilcher with Marissa was something that we did often, and it became a cornerstone of our relationship.”

Koziel, formerly of Manhattan, was reported missing by family members to the Manhattan Police Department on Feb. 14 and was last seen by family members on Feb. 1. Her body was found on the side of the road by three teenagers who reported the body Feb. 23.

“Marissa was a gorgeous, spontaneous, free-spirited, and funny young woman whose life abruptly ended before she even had the chance to truly start it,” Gill said.

Gill said she had not reached out to the Joliet Park District yet but plans to do so.

Joliet Park District Executive Director Tom Carstens did not return a phone call for comment Tuesday.