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Three Years After Hadiya Pendleton's Death, Life 'Not Any Easier,' Her Mother Says

Family Marks Third Year Since Hadiya Was Killed

(CBS) -- Three years have passed since the fatal shooting of 15-year old Hadiya Pendleton in a Kenwood Park.

The teen was gunned down just nine days after attending President Obama's second inauguration.

Friday, on the anniversary, friends and family held a ceremony remembering her. They launched balloons and celebrated with what they called "a commitment to healing."

Hadiya's mom was one of the organizers.

"It does not get any easier as the days go along. Let's be clear: it doesn't," Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton said. "But what we can do is figure out how to get through these days and weeks of the life sentence that we're serving."

Last year, the park where Hadiya was killed was renamed in her honor.

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