https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/products/prod_eebonds_glance.htmNo one here can ethically advise whether a 3rd party, one who is not even representing her own interests here, should or shouldn't cash in these bonds.
If you want to advise her, you need to understand what the instruments are, as well as any tax consequences for selling them, so that you can explain it well enough to her to make her own decision.
Whether she bought the bonds before May 2005 is another issue. Prior to that, they were functionally different instruments, having different terms, masquerading under the same name.
Furthermore, paper EE bonds (no longer offered for sale) were sold at half the face value. You need to research whether she will be forfeiting the other half if redeemed before 30 years after issuance, if she bought paper bonds (as opposed to electronically issued bonds).
I don't actually know if there is a secondary market for these bonds, but your broker should be able to tell you whether they can actually be sold (as opposed to redeemed by the US Treasury).
Good luck! You should, at the very least, try to finagle a homemade candlelight dinner out of her for your efforts. ;)