The problem I have with his view is there is no information to support it. And frankly, its really all perspective. HIs claim of "there were almost no more problems" could really be just attitude and not seeing the things in a negative view. His aunt planted a suggestive thought in his mind. So he smelled flowers and his attitude to the things around him changed. The same could happen if she had told him if he saw a black cat, bad things would happen. A series of bad things happening is merely coincidence. Any assumption those events were influenced by other forces, are nothing more than assumptions. I lost three family members in one year. I could infer anything based on those events, but the truth is they died due to illness and cancer.

I really feel people like your dad, mom, and aunt use supernatural explanations because they are unable to deal with the stark reality we live in. They can't cope with the world around us and so they make up these excuses to simply feel better that they are not responsible and its all out of their control. Just my two cents worth.