This story is very similar to Quan Yin. Many manifestations across the centuries. People only realise later it's her.
There was a case of a Quan Yin practitioner who died in Taiwan. After the funeral ceremony, the funeral director came to the family and asked who this splendidly dressed woman was, whom he had seen with them. They were completely mystified, until he started describing typical clothing worn by Quan Yin. They were very embarrassed that this guy saw her, and they didn't.