Basic sewing machine?

I told a GF I'd ask this question.  She is a teacher and has little time to sew, just wants a basic machine for hemming, mending, etc.  My thought is to get a machine of the type your local repair person repairs.  Janome in my case.  Any thoughts?   She has an old singer, but it costs too much to fix (she says). 
Sara in Fla.