44cm is pretty large!
Also look for short reach bars / compact drop. If you spend a little time looking you'll see most bars quote the width (some are center to center, some are outside-outside, so it's different), but they should also quote the reach and the drop. combined with a shorter stem, you may be able to fix your wife's riding position. It might be best to go to a shop and have them demo some different cockpit layouts until you figure out what she likes.