Casanova was one of four Marines killed Friday when an improvised explosive device went off near the vehicle they were driving in the Anbar province.
Family members said that this was Casanova's second year as a Marine. She was deployed in January to Iraq.
"She didn't have to join the Marines, it was a choice she made," said Craig Casanova, Casey's father. "She just felt like she had a purpose in life when she joined the marines and was just happy doing what she was doing."
Casey Casanova's mother, Paula Carruth lives in McComb. She said the 22-year-old was a musician with a great singing voice, and she played the drums.