Possible Clues:

• Ill-fated parent initially housed by robust sons
• Unlucky to lose leader, splashes out
• Unfortunate -- splashed endlessly around
• He slaps (anag) — unlucky
• Left in terrible shape at end of illness — that's unfortunate
• Unfortunate, wretched
• Place with ashes scattered around is wretched
• Unfortunate lapses cured by hospital
• Unfortunate bumbling pal is caught by: she's escaped
• Piteous