I have a theory as to why elders' wives gossip so much. I believe a big part of it has to do with the conversation running dry (between themselves and their elder husbands) after so many years of marriage. Since they don't get to spend too much "quality time" together (because of the elder husband's hamster wheel schedule), when they do have some intimate time alone, the elder's wives will invaribly attempt to engage their husbands in any kind of interchange. However, since the only remaining conversation topics of any interest (after so many years of marriage) are usually the congregation scandals, that's what they inevitably end up talking about. Afterwards, when the elders' wives find themselves alone for too long, they start calling each other up to entertain themselves and enjoy a scandalous interchange of stories in an attempt to liven up their otherwise boring lives.
But I could be wrong.