Remains in the role of husband (3)
I believe the answer is:
ash
'remains' is the definition.
(remains of a fire)
'in the role of husband' is the wordplay.
'in the role of' becomes 'as' (as in an actor appearing as a character).
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'as'+'h'='ASH'
(Other definitions for ash that I've seen before include "Grey colour" , "at village near Whitchurch in Shropshire" , "In fireplace it may be" , "Remains of conflagration" , "Knotty - - (Ken Dodd)" .)