Therese M. Coutu died peacefully with her family at her side at the Falmouth Care and Rehabilitation Center on April 1 after a long illness. She was 82.

Terry was born in West Warwick, R.I., on Feb. 19, 1929. She was the daughter the late Almanzor and Cordelia (Beliveau) Langlois. She lived in West Warwick for most of her life before moving to Atria Woodbrier in Falmouth to be near her daughters for the past three years.

Terry worked at the West Warwick police department from 1971 to 1999, starting as the secretary to the chief and later to the juvenile department, ending her career in the prosecution department. She was the first female constable in the department.

Her greatest joy in life was when she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren at family gatherings, where her love was evident by the abundant cooking she did for them. She had a passion for gardening, feeding her feathered friends and a special love and attachment to her canine companions though the years, especially her last spaniel, Cody. She enjoyed traveling the world, but especially to Wells and Ogunquit, Me.

She is survived by her daughters, Jacqueline Harbour and her husband, Brian, of Coventry, R.I., Elaine Coutu of Randolph, Celeste Stickney and her husband, Norman, of Edgartown, and her only son, Neil Coutu, and his wife, Ann, of Stoneham. She was predeceased by her daughter, Monique Crooker, in 2003. She also leaves her dear grandchildren, Keith, Meredith, Chad, Benjamin, Nicole, Jacob, Brandon and Justin; and her brothers, Roland and Leo Langlois and her sister, Jeanne Roy. She was the former wife of the late Norbert Coutu.

A celebration of her life is planned for later this spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), 350 S. Huntington avenue, Boston, MA 02130 or to The Alzheimer’s Association of the Cape and Islands, 765 Attucks Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601.