FORM 3
      U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION       _____________________
              WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549              |    OMB APPROVAL     |
               INITIAL STATEMENT OF                |_____________________|
        BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES         |OMB NUMBER: 3235-0104|
                                                   |EXPIRES:             |
                                                   | SEPTEMBER 30, 1998  |
    Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the         |ESTIMATED AVERAGE    |
      Securities Exchange Act of 1934,             |BURDEN HOURS         |
     Section 17(a) of the Public Utility           |PER RESPONSE 0.5     |
       Holding Company Act of 1935                 |_____________________|
    or Section 30(f) of the Investment
           Company Act of 1940

   1.   Name and Address of Reporting Person

        Ellsworth                     Thomas                        S.   
          (Last)                      (First)                    (Middle)

        100 Tri-State Drive, Suite 200                                 
                                (Street)

         Lincolnshire                     IL                        60069   
           (City)                      (State)                      (Zip)

                                                                             
   2.   Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)

        9/30/97                                                            

   3.   IRS OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OF REPORTING PERSON (VOLUNTARY)

                                                                             
   4.   Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

        Ivex Packaging Corporation/IXX                                     

   5.   RELATIONSHIP OF REPORTING PERSON(S) TO ISSUER (CHECK ALL APPLICABLE)
    (  ) DIRECTOR
    (  ) 10% OWNER
    (X ) OFFICER (GIVE TITLE BELOW)
    (  ) OTHER (SPECIFY TITLE BELOW)
   Vice President and General Manager 
                                                                             
   6.   IF AMENDMENT, DATE OF ORIGINAL (MONTH/DAY/YEAR)

                                                                             
   7.   INDIVIDUAL OR JOINT/GROUP FILING (CHECK APPLICABLE LINE)
     X   FORM FILED BY ONE REPORTING PERSON
         FORM FILED BY MORE THAN ONE REPORTING PERSON

                                                                             

   TABLE I - NON-DERIVATIVE SECURITIES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
   ____________________________________________________________________________
   |1. TITLE OF      |2. AMOUNT OF   |3. OWNERSHIP     |4. NATURE OF INDIRECT  |
   |   SECURITY      |   SECURITIES  |   FORM DIRECT   |   BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP|
   |   (INSTR. 4)    |   BENEFICIALLY|   DIRECT (D)    |   (INSTR. 5)          |
   |                 |   OWNED       |   OR INDIRECT   |                       |
   |                 |   (INSTR. 4)  |   (I) (INSTR. 5)|                       |
   |_________________|_______________|_________________|_______________________|

   [TYPE ENTRIES HERE]

      COMMON STOCK        235,010            D
                                                                             

   TABLE II - DERIVATIVE SECURITIES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
     (E.G., PUTS, CALLS, WARRANTS, OPTIONS, CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES)
                                                                             
   1.   Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)

               Options
                                                                             
   2.   Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)
                 9/30/97                         9/30/07
        _________________________          _____________________
         Date Exercisable                        Expiration Date
                                                                             
   3.   Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
        (Instr. 4)
              Options                              81,647
        ________________________          ______________________________
              Title                         Amount of Number of Shares
                                                                             
   4.   Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

              Initial public offering price
                                                                             
   5.   Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct(D) or Indirect(I)
        (Instr. 5)
                       D
                                                                             
   6.   Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)

                                                                             

   EXPLANATION OF RESPONSES:

        /s/ Thomas S. Ellsworth                           9/30/97        
   ** SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON                        DATE

                       

   ** INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACTS CONSTITUTE FEDERAL
      CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS.
      SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001 AND 15 U.S.C. 78FF(A).

   NOTE: FILE THREE COPIES OF THIS FORM, ONE OF WHICH MUST BE MANUALLY SIGNED.
   IF SPACE PROVIDED IS INSUFFICIENT, SEE INSTRUCTION 6 FOR PROCEDURE

   POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION
   CONTAINED IN THIS FORM ARE NOR REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS
   A CURRENTLY VALID OMB NUMBER.