Louise Gike

After a rich life marked by abiding faith and great affection, Margaret Louise (Louise) Gike died peacefully on March 10, 2026. She was 97.

Born in 1929 in Duryea, Pennsylvania, Louise was one of three daughters born to the late Peter and Margaret (Hogan) Langan. She was preceded in death by her beloved sisters Ruth Sullivan and Regina Langan.

While Louise’s professional accomplishments included positions in public health, hospital administration, and consulting, her greatest contributions were made to higher education. She earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree from Marywood College (now Marywood University), where she also served on the faculty. In 2019, the university established The Louise Langan Gike Scholarship in Nutrition and Dietetics in her honor. Louise also taught at College Misericordia (now Misericordia University). Later, she served on the faculty of Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, where she designed and implemented the university’s first accredited degree program in Nutrition and Dietetics.

In 1963 Louise married Steve Gike and joined him for four years in Calcutta, India. Their daughter Margi was born in 1964.

Returning to the US in 1967, Louise and Steve settled in the Webster Farm neighborhood of North Wilmington, Delaware, where they lived for 40 years. There they forged lasting friendships and provided Margi with an idyllic childhood. Louise often said that her Webster Farm years were the happiest of her life.

Without question, Louise took the greatest joy from her family, especially her remarkable marriage of 47 years. In 2007, Louise and Steve moved to the Maris Grove retirement community in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where she lived enthusiastically, laughed heartily, and loved genuinely until her death. Louise’s family is grateful to the many healthcare professionals at Maris Grove who assisted her with care and kindness and to her dear friends who eased her final journey with dignity and grace.

Louise is remembered by friends for her authentic warmth, sharp intellect and tremendous sense of humor. (Her kitchen table was the place of many a laugh and good chin wag.) She is remembered by her family as a devoted and joyful mother, adoring mother-in-law to Bob Watters, and unabashedly proud Grandmommy to Bobby (Lindsey Damour). She also will be missed by nephews Mark Sullivan and Walter Sullivan and niece Teri Sullivan (Jerry Goebel), and friends far and wide.

A lifelong Catholic, Louise was an example of deep and unwavering faith. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Maris Grove Chapel, 500 Maris Grove Way, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, March 14. Visitation will begin at 10:00 with Mass to follow at 11:00. Interment will be private.

The family requests that well-wishers kindly omit flowers. Contributions may be made in Louise’s memory to The Ministry of Caring, 115 East 14^th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 or www.ministryofcaring.org.