Apparently, she was of a distinguished family as her husband, the Roman regionarius, Gordianus, of the gens Anicia.

After the death of her husband, around 573, she devoted herself to religion in the "new cell by the gate of blessed Paul" (cella nova juxta portam beati Pauli).

[4] Gregory the Great had a mosaic portrait of his parents executed at the monastery of Saint Andrew; it is minutely described by Johannes Diaconus.

[3] There is a chapel dedicated to Santa Silvia in San Gregorio Magno al Celio.

[5] Two of her relatives, sisters-in-law Trasilla and Emiliana, are also venerated as saints, as well as her other sister-in-law Gordiana, and her husband Gordianus.