If there is any chance that you both will be using it or even if it's just hers, I recommend going to a farm store or a lawnmower dealer and handle some to see how heavy and hard to handle they are. See how they feel and if it looks like the length of the shaft will let it cut level and smoothly. What ever brand you buy, make sure that it has a 2 string head. Not sure that the one string heads are available now but if they are, avoid them like the plague. Some elderly people, like my dad for instance, have trouble pulling the starter cord quickly enough to start them. I have a Stihl 55 that has a straight shaft, but it is almost too short to cut level and I am not a tall guy. Other than that it has provided good service and is reasonably easy to replace the string. JMO